Abbie Kwitel, Psy.D.
Incoming Class of 2007
Internship: Fordham University-Rose Hill Campus, Counseling and Psychological Services
September 2012 Conferral
A Qualitative Examination of Adolescents’ and Their Families’ Experiences of DBT
Chair: Jill Rathus, Ph.D.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a well-established, effective treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) for both adults and adolescents. The goal of the present study was to investigate the personal experiences of adolescents and their families who have participated in DBT, as well as reap information that may lead to further research and additional treatment insights for at-risk adolescents. Using six families, each consisting of one adolescent with BPD, along with one or both of his or her parents, the primary investigator asked questions related to the participants’ experiences in DBT. The investigator and her coding team then identified repeating ideas in the transcripts, and generated themes composed of groupings of the participants’ repeating ideas. Theoretical constructs then helped to form the final narrative of the experience of adolescents and their families in DBT. The theoretical constructs that captured their experiences were: Group Cohesion and Universality, Imparting and Utilizing Therapeutic Information, Development of Socializing Techniques and the Instillation of Hope, Insight into Emotional and Behavioral Patterns and Change, and DBT Methodology. Ultimately, the theoretical narrative was composed based on these theoretical constructs.