Dialectical behavior therapy in college counseling centers

Abstract College student mental health is a pressing public health concern, with suicide persisting as one of the top causes of student death. At the same time, college counseling centers (CCCs) are tasked with serving increasing numbers of students with mental health concerns, often overwhelming their scarce staff and resources. One strategy to manage some of the most severe and pressing mental health needs on campus is dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Though DBT is a time- and resource-intensive treatment, much of the research related to DBT in CCCs has focused on tailoring the treatment to this unique practice setting, including offering select components of the overall treatment model. In this chapter, we review the available literature related to DBT in CCCs, beginning first with research related to comprehensive DBT in CCCs, continuing to versions of DBT in CCCs focused on skills training only, and finally, DBT in CCCs for new populations of students not typically of focus in DBT research (e.g., test anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). We conclude with a discussion of recommendations for future research and emerging trends in the field of DBT research related to college student well-being.