DBT Therapy, In-Person or TeleHealth; Couples - DBT Skills Group - EMDR - PA NJ DE FL
FAQ's
What is Comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)?
Comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) refers to treatment that includes weekly individual DBT sessions, weekly DBT Skills Group, and telephone coaching in between sessions as needed to help individuals apply the skills in real life situations.
At Princeton DBT I offer Comprehensive DBT; DBT Informed Individual therapy without Group; or a Group-Only option if you are seeing another therapist or are in the regular care of a psychiatrist.
How Intensive is the Program at Princeton DBT?
Princeton DBT provides care at the outpatient level which means that you will receive between 1 and 3.5 hours of therapy per week. This is not an inpatient, intensive outpatient or partial hospitalization program.
Payment?
Princeton DBT (Lona Stranieri, LCSW) is an out-of-network provider.
Check with your insurance plan to see if you have out of network benefits for behavioral health. If you do, individual sessions and groups are typically reimbursable under out- of- network mental health services. However, the amount of reimbursement varies greatly dependent upon the plan.
What are the fees?
Individual or Couples/Partners counseling session fee $225 per 50-minute individual session thereafter. The group fee is $110 (90 minutes). Our initial first appointment Intake (50 minutes) is $275..
FAQ's - Individual Therapy
Do I have to do DBT if I come to this practice?
No. Many of my clients see me individually but do not participate in a group. The best treatment plan for you will be determined collaboratively with you and any other treatment providers you see.
Do I have to participate in a group if I do Individual therapy?
No. Many of my clients see me individually but do not participate in a group. The best treatment plan for you will be determined collaboratively with you, and any other treatment providers you see.
Can I do DBT Skills Training on an individual basis as opposed to joining a group?
Yes, skills training can be done individually. It is billed at the individual session rate. That being said, I generally recommend that wherever possible DBT Skills Training be done in a group. There are many benefits of the group model including: learning from and feeling validated by the struggles of others; feeling connected to and supported by others in the group; an opportunity for social interaction, and an opportunity to practice skills within the group setting.
Do you prescribe medication?
No, you must go to a separate provider for medication. I can recommend prescribers and am happy to work collaboratively with whomever you see for that purpose.
FAQ's - DBT Skills Training Groups
What is the fee for group and is it covered by insurance?
The fee for groups is $110 per session per 90 minute session.
Princeton DBT is out of network but the groups may be covered by out-of-network benefits for behavioral health if that is part of your plan.
Check with your individual plan to see what your coverage is for out of network “group psychotherapy”.
How far in advance do I have to pay for groups?
You pay as you go while enrolled in the DBT Skills Group program. Payment for service is collected on a weekly basis
What if I have to miss group due to illness or vacation?
Regular attendance is critical if you are to benefit fully from the group. However, an occasional miss due to illness, planned vacations, or an unforeseen emergency is understandable. If absences become regular I sometimes suggest that you postpone enrollment or take a break until a time when you are able to more fully commit.
How do I enroll in a group?
You will need to complete an intake session. The purpose of this session is to get a brief history from you; as well as provide you with an orientation to the group.
To initiate that process please call Lona Stranieri, LCSW at
(609) 921-0020 or email Lona@PrincetonDBT.com
Can I join an already established group or do I have to wait for the start of a new group?
Most of the time participants are joining an already established group when the group returns to the beginning of a new module. The Group cycles through the skills modules on-going with participants entering and leaving at different points, depending on where they started.
Can I attend a group if my individual therapist is in a different practice or doesn’t practice DBT?
Yes, Princeton DBT groups are open to everyone regardless of who their individual therapist is, and what modality they practice. At the time of intake, participants who are seeing outside therapists will be asked for consent in order to consult with the individual therapist as needed for the benefit of the client’s overall treatment plan.
How often will I attend group sessions?
Groups meet via TeleHealth once weekly for 90 minutes.
When are the groups?
Groups are offered on different days at different times. It is best to check this website for the most current schedule.
If I miss my group in a given week, can I attend a different one that week?
No, the groups are all in different modules or different parts of the same module; so it is not possible to make up a missed group by attending a different group. Homework is posted weekly on the website (Updates and Schedules) and can be checked if a group is missed – in order to help you keep up.
How long will I be in a group?
It takes a minimum of 9-10 months to cover all the modules one time through. Many individuals benefit from two full rounds of skills. However, this is not always required. Once you have completed all the modules, you are welcome to return for a second full round, or to repeat any of the individual modules, if you feel a need to. Our former participants are encouraged to return to group at a later date, should they need to “tune up” their skills.
What is discussed in group?
The following modules are covered:
Mindfulness
Distress Tolerance
Emotion Regulation ,and
Interpersonal Effectiveness.
There is a set agenda that is followed in each group. Homework is assigned and reviewed every week. The group content is focused on the skills. Sharing of a lot of personal information is discouraged. For more details on the content of the modules, refer to the group information on our website PrincetonDBT.com.
What is the participant makeup of the group?
Princeton DBT and Counseling prides itself on the diversity of its groups and the rich experience this diversity provides. Our groups consist of adults - ages 18 and older, mixed gender, from all walks of life, and college/grad students. For us, this has proven to be an effective way for participants to get the maximum benefit. The feedback we consistently get from group members is that they valued the experience of being in a group with people from different life stages and backgrounds. There are typically between 5-10 participants in group at a time.