Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Multiculturalism: An Integrated Treatment Package for Adolescent Populations

Date of Award

Summer 8-22-2009

Document Type

Doctoral Research Paper

Degree Name

Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology

Organizational Unit

Graduate School of Professional Psychology

First Advisor

Fernand Lubuguin

Second Advisor

Nikki Kraslin

Third Advisor

Olga Vera-NeSmith

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved.

Keywords

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), Multicultural education

Abstract

The efficacy of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) as a treatment modality for Borderline Personality Disorder is "well established'' (Linehan, 2003; Chambless & Hollon, 1998). In recent years, DBT has been adapted for a multitude of disorders, populations and settings. Additional empirically validated studies reveal that multicultural infused treatment yields significantly improved therapy outcomes (Griner & Smith, 2006; Yutrzenka, 1995; Salzman & D' Andrea, 2001; Want, Parham, & Baker, 2004). Moreover, a growing body of work suggests that ethnic identity development is an integral part of adolescent development, and that adolescents who receive multicultural training tend to achieve healthier ethnic identity development and score higher on assessments of psychological well-being. Taken together, culturally informed DBT infused with multicultural education is expected to improve treatment outcomes for all adolescent populations. Treatment recommendations and applied clinical examples are provided for incorporating multiculturalism in DBT.

Copyright Date

7-10-2009

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. Permanently suppressed.

Rights Holder

Casey M. Casler

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