MOOD DISORDERS CENTER
Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO-DBT)
Evidence-based treatment services to help teens and young adults increase flexible thinking and social connectedness. Located at our NYC office.
Interested in Learning More?
Please fill out the form below and our team will contact you.
What is RO-DBT?
While self-control can be a good thing, exercising excessive self-control or “overcontrol” can impair functioning and is associated with low social connectedness, rigidity, risk aversion, loneliness, and perfectionism. Many people who are overcontrolled learn to hide their emotions to avoid feeling vulnerable. Too much self-control contributes to more complex conditions, including chronic anxiety, depression, restrictive eating disorders, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.
Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO-DBT) is a state-of-the-art behavioral treatment designed to support individuals exhibiting overcontrol by targeting three core areas: building close and supportive social connections, increasing openness to new experiences, and improving flexible thinking.
About the Program
The RO-DBT program includes both individual therapy and a skills training class. In the skills class, participants are taught skills to increase flexibility, openness, and social connectedness. In individual therapy, teens and young adults learn to apply these skills to work towards their valued goals. We welcome patients joining our skills classes with individual providers who are not affiliated with the Child Mind Institute.
RO-DBT helps patients:
- Increase self-awareness
- Expand ability to see alternative points of view
- Improve emotional expression
- Reduce intense focus on perfection
- Address and loosen overly cautious, rigid, or rule-governed behavior
- Decrease aloof and distant styles of relating
- Decrease social comparison
Skills Classes Details
Our RO-DBT skills classes operate on a rolling admission basis. Patients learn core RO-DBT skills informed by current research in a class format with other individuals of similar ages. Both skills class cycles are enrolling now!
Teens, Ages 14-17
- Dates: Tuesdays, January 14 to June 24, 2025
- Length: 24-week cycle
- Time: 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm ET (one 90-minute session per week)
- Location: In-person at the Child Mind Institute
College/Young Adults, Ages 18+
- Dates: Wednesdays, January 15 to July 9, 2025
- Length: 26-week cycle
- Time: 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm ET
(one 90-minute session per week) - Location: In-person at the Child Mind Institute
RO-DBT Program Hallmarks
Provider Flexibility
Skills class participants must also be seen in individual therapy. Providers outside of the Child Mind Institute are allowed.
Coordinated Care
Our clinicians meet regularly as a consultation team to support one another and think creatively about the best ways to help young people and their families.
Parenting Support
At the Child Mind Institute, we frequently work with parents. Separate RO-DBT parent consultation is available.
Medication Management
Treatment may be accompanied by medication management as needed. We have a team of expert psychopharmacologists in our office.
Considerable research has been conducted on RO-DBT, and multiple randomized, controlled research trials have demonstrated its effectiveness for over-control symptoms in many diagnoses, including treatment resistant anxiety and depression, autism, and obsessive-compulsive personality styles.
Who Would Benefit From Our RO-DBT Program?
We treat teens and young adults who have:
- Rigid, rule-governed behavior (including restrictive eating)
- Trouble making and/or deepening current friendships
- Perfectionism and an intense focus on achievement
- A tendency to hide or avoid experiencing and expressing emotions
- Issues with intimacy and connectedness
- Self-injurious and/or suicidal behaviors
- Depression and/or anxiety, especially when these issues are not resolved with other therapeutic interventions
Adolescents and young adults with overcontrolled coping tend to approach life with intense personal standards. They typically work hard to behave appropriately in public and focus excessively on school, work, or extracurricular activities in a manner that interferes with their well-being and ability to build strong, supportive relationships. RO-DBT is designed to help them loosen rigid behavior, learn to relax, and feel less isolated.
Who Can Apply?
New Patients: The program is open to patients new to the Child Mind Institute, including those with an outside provider. These patients will participate in our pre-screening assessment with treatment recommendations. Full diagnostic evaluations are available for those who also wish to receive individual therapy or other services we offer.
Current Patients: Will also participate in the pre-screening assessment and work with their individual providers.
Program Cost
Skills Class Cost: $250 per 90-minute session
Individual Treatment Cost: Clinician’s hourly rate
Pre-screening Assessment Cost: To ensure an appropriate fit, we will conduct a one-hour assessment billed at the clinician’s hourly rate.
Our Team
Ready to Get Started?
If you are interested in learning more, or enrolling a child or patient, please reach out to Marlee Mazor at Marlee.Mazor@childmind.org, or fill out the following form.
More Mood Treatments & Services
Our Mood Disorders Center also offers the following specialized group treatment programs and services.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) | New York
Group-based therapy for those who struggle with mood swings, depression and anxiety, and self-injurious or suicidal behavior. Skills groups are offered for children (7-12), adolescents (12-18) and young adults (18-25).
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) | California
Group-based therapy for those who struggle with mood swings, depression and anxiety, and self-injurious or suicidal behavior. Skills groups are offered for children (7-12), adolescents (12-18) and young adults (18-25) in California.
College Readiness Program
Support for students who are entering or enrolled in college and need help managing new social and emotional challenges.
Not Sure Where to Start?
Request an appointment at the Child Mind Institute to get your child evaluated by one of our expert clinicians today.
