Behavioral Tech, a leading research group for Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) has conducted randomized clinical trials on teens with repeated suicidal and self-harming behaviors, as well as other depressive symptoms (https://behavioraltech.org/research/how-dbt-helps/). These studies have found DBT for adolescents superior to reducing self-harm, suicidal ideation, depression and anxiety and demonstrated strong results for suicidal college students. In addition to the research conducted by Behavioral Tech, Sunrise RTC has conducted its own outcome data collection with its students throughout their time at Sunrise and up to two years after program graduation and found that 88% of its students who have completed the program no longer have clinically significant levels of depression, while 84% of the students, 18 months after program completion, are still able to effectively communicate, build and repair relationships, and hold appropriate boundaries, never needing an additional higher level of care.
Depression and anxiety coupled with a lack of emotional regulation skills can be a cause of life-threatening behaviors. These behaviors can present in a number of ways, such as self-harm, substance abuse, eating disorders, school refusal, sexual promiscuity, impulsivity, low self-worth, etc. According to Behavioral Tech at least 135 million people worldwide will suffer from severe problems with emotion regulation in their lifetime and need Dialectical Behavior Therapy. “This is why we take our Outcomes research so seriously,” says Brad Simpson, Executive Director of Sunrise RTC. “It’s like we have the FitBit for treatment; I might feel like I ran 5 miles this morning, but if my FitBit reads I only ran two, then I only ran two. We apply this same idea to collecting data about the accuracy of our treatment approach. We want to make sure we are providing the quality level of care for our students that we say we are. The research shows that DBT is effective for adolescents in managing depression and anxiety and our Outcomes data reflects that. We collect this data monthly from our students and their families so that we can have quality assurance, and make adjustments if needed, in meeting the needs of each individual family.”
A fully adherent (also known as fully integrated) DBT program offers standard DBT groups for clients, and then goes above and beyond. Dialectical behavior therapy is integrated into activities, academics, therapy sessions, and relationships. Sunrise Residential Treatment Center is one of the only full adherent residential DBT programs for teen girls. By maintaining the four pillars of DBT- Skills, Consultation, Phone Coaching, and Individual Therapy - Sunrise students are able to decrease life-threatening behaviors, leading to a decrease in therapy-interfering behaviors, actions that interfere with their quality of life, and an increase of skills acquisition to replace negative coping skills.
About Sunrise RTC
Sunrise is a residential treatment center for adolescent girls ages 13-17 aimed at uncovering the academic, social and emotional potential of girls who have been held back by emotional or behavioral struggles. Sunrise is a fully integrated DBT treatment program and licensed by the State of Utah. Sunrise combines the warmth of a home, the safety and clinical expertise of a residential treatment program and the community access of a transition program.