Dialectical Behavior Therapy for a College Population: Applications at Sarah Lawrence College and Beyond

Abstract

Trends in college mental health literature suggest many college and university counseling centers are facing increased demands for services. Moreover, survey data suggest that counseling center directors and staff perceive increases in serious psychopathology, suicidality, and nonsuicidal self-injurious behavior, along with other typical student problems. At Sarah Lawrence College, a marked increase in the number of students hospitalized for psychiatric reasons, many meeting criteria for borderline personality disorder (BPD), required Health Services to rethink clinical service delivery, staff training, and resource allocation. Owing to its proven efficacy in the treatment of BPD, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) was adapted at our setting. An overview of DBT is presented, followed by a brief history and a detailed description of the Sarah Lawrence College DBT Program, initial data on its impact for student retention and hospitalizations, and a discussion of the potential benefits of employing DBT with students in other collegiate settings. As one of few college counseling centers offering such treatment, the DBT Program at Sarah Lawrence College represents a promising model of treatment for college students with BPD.