WDBTA Mission

What do we do?

• Maintain DBT treatment integrity by providing standards for the essential theoretical and intervention aspects of DBT. These standards define the necessary and sufficient elements that make a treatment DBT.
• Bridge the science-practice gap by providing a platform for development based on collaboration among clinicians, researchers, consumers and other stakeholders.
• Build a strong, informed and connected membership body and act as their advocate.
• Stimulate the continued advancement of research and practice of DBT.
• Create and support a community of practice for people who share Marsha Linehan`s passion for compassionate and evidence-based behavior therapy/psychotherapy.
• Foster the dissemination and implementation of DBT across the world, especially in underserved areas and populations, while maintaining treatment fidelity.
• Establish standards for DBT training. Provide standards for quality training that is relevant to diverse cultural variations across regions, countries, cultures while maintaining core or essential DBT elements (theory, principles, structures, and strategies).

Whom do we do it for?

• For people who are suffering from serious mental health problems; for their families; for at-risk populations; for health care practitioners; for scientists; for other mental health care stakeholders.

How do we do it?

• WDBTA is committed to an expert-driven, transparent, representational, and non-commercial structure
• Encourage innovation and creativity in DBT research and treatment delivery.
• Provide access to information and resources through website and social media.
• We will establish a leading international authority on the science, practice and delivery of DBT
• Protect the quality and standards of practice of DBT by developing guidelines on training and certification of DBT under consideration of the currently established national standards. Provide annual international meetings.