I went through the DBT program and I did learn some new skills, but I didn't find it helped me that much. I had trouble understanding the pros and cons. Although my therapist I had at the time went over it with me, by the time I went to group and we went over it, I still struggled with it. Then my therapist said "we just went over it on Monday". I have dislexsia and I don't absorb the material in my brain for very long. With that being said. I'm not trying to discourage anyone to get the help they need. I'm just saying for me personally, it helped some but I honestly feel they need to revise how they run the program, and don't skip over any of the pages in the book. read more

I absolutely love APPLIED DBT, they have worked wonders for my family!! Dr Bonnie and Dr Olabanji have gone above and beyond what any normal therapist should be expected to do! They are available 24/7. I can't express any more gratitude for their help. This is not a feel good therapy, it takes work, but the results will be amazing! read more

If you are serious about getting better and dedicated to doing the work, this is the place to go! I've been receiving their services for two years. It's not easy but very effective in my life. I'm 42 and finally found the help I need from Applied Dbt. Thank you To all at Applied Dbt, WE have changed my life! read more

Absolutely life-changing experience here for the past two years. I had individual sessions with Lina and skills group with Bonnie, Heather, and Kristy. I'll vouch for all of them to say they're wonderful therapists who genuinely care about their patients. They're all incredibly intelligent, knowledgeable, and empathetic. I never had an issue with insurance that couldn't be resolved within a day or two. I had such a positive experience that I chose psychology as a career path. They've always gone above and beyond to make sure I got the treatment I've needed. They don't rush with recovery, so it's very self-paced. The only thing they've ever asked of me is that I put in the work to practice skills, so if you expect to be passive in your own healing, DBT might not be for you. read more

The billing part of the business is horrible. Our last appointment with them was over a year ago and we are still getting bills. The bills are for services that have been paid for. Even after we have supplied them with a copy of the check that has cleared our account, we are still getting statements saying that we owe them money for the same dates of service. Keep very good records of payments so you don't end up paying for services you receive more than once. read more

Nightmare, my childs therapist after 6 months never got to the root of the problem after I spent hours bringing him up to date on all past evaluation on initial session Dr. Ola. Not only ignored and belittled me, he never asked ANY questions related to the issue why we went to office in the first place instead per my child, let her play video games for not once but several times while Dr. Ola finished his homework for 6months and when finally deep in therapy he calls child protection because he is too lazy to be a real therapist. My child got nothing, after CPS investigated they recommended I see another therapist for child because they found nothing to investigate. Nightmare!! read more

I love this place. Bonnie is wonderful and I don't know where I'd be without her services.. She is professional, caring, and she listens to your worries and concerns. This is an intense therapy and it takes work on your part but the end result is well worth it. It gives you ways to cope in your time of need. She has an amazing team and they are all so good. Without her care and services I don't know where I'd be or if I'd even be here. Give her services a try you won't be disappointed. read more

Honestly, if it weren't for Bonnie and her team, I don't know that I would be here today. DBT is unlike any other form of therapy and it takes serious WORK. The therapists are very upfront with you about what is expected and they will let you know if you're not upholding your end of the contract. They can't fix you, but they can give you the tools to help yourself. The year that I spent going here was one of my hardest, but I'm so glad I found them. I've recommended Bonnie and her team to everyone who asks. read more

"My kid's Therapist is Making Me Nuts!" Therapist "looks down" at and treats parents as inferior in subtle ways. I never felt so attacked by a therapist when helping my kids. Therapist acts as if they have the answers or solutions to everything and spends time telling you how to best fix or change things. Just don't think they listen to the parents. Parents spend more time with the kids and the problems then they do. read more

Working with Heather was easily the worst experience I've ever had in dealing with a mental health 'professional'. Tried giving her the benefit of the doubt and holding out, but between making me describe IN DETAIL every single time I was sexually assaulted as a child in our first 'getting to know you' appointment when I wasn't at all comfortable doing so and then ending the appointment on that note which lead to me having a horrible panic attack and horrible backslide in my mental health as a result, telling me outright that I do not have the chronic disease I have a diagnosis through multiple positive blood tests for over the last six years (a disease completely unrelated to any mental health issue, it's a chronic bacterial infection) solely because she 'had a friend with the same disease and their symptoms were different' and her insisting the symptoms I have are not symptoms of that disease (which, if it wasn't so appalling that she felt she had any right to comment on a chronic disease that I see a specialist in that field for when she is in NO way a doctor would be HILARIOUS because my symptoms are about as textbook for said disease as one can get), and also telling me I need a brain scan (to which I told her I had recently had one done for an unrelated issue that was totally normal) because she repeatedly insisted my inability to remember very traumatic events from my childhood was extremely abnormal (when just about everyone knows trauma alone affects memory. Not even bringing into play the fact that I have multiple diagnoses like ADHD and CPTSD that are well known for causing memory issues. On TOP of the unrelated bacterial disease she insisted I didn't have being notorious for affecting memory, which I also told her.) She also would make outrageous assumptions of what she expected I had done in situations without asking me based solely on the extremely detrimental stereotypes associated with my BPD diagnosis, and I would have to correct her by telling her I did not do anything of the sort and would not behave that way in that situation, to which she reacted with surprise which is extremely telling of her opinion of people with an already extremely stigmatized diagnosis. It was completely unacceptable, especially in an environment where patients are fragile and it is difficult for them to advocate for themselves when a provider is crossing boundaries repeatedly. Patients deserve respect and acknowledgment, not to be talked over and corrected (especially when everything the provider is saying is factually incorrect and extremely condescending at best). Do better. read more

I was not really into their program. I preferred the outpatient program at Sharp Mesa Vista much more. I just did not connect with the program. read more

I am not sure why my original review was taken down, but when I asked them if they had seen my review all they had seen was the update, so I thought I would re-post it as well as I can remember. I was a total wreck when I got to them, and had seen quite a few therapists before landing on their doorstep. These folks made all the difference. I haven't been inpatient in ages! Dr. Lucks uses humor a lot, so that helps, and the groups teach me things I can do when emotions get too high to handle so life doesn't get to be too much. I was amazed to see changes, and quickly. I made use of their willingness to help me after hours, so that helped a lot. If you need this kind of thing, these folks are the best!!. read more

Had a horrible experience here. If you think you need therapy and want to find someone who cares, go somewhere else. This facility cares more about insurance money and paperwork then they do about people. I went in for an initial consultation and they recommended me for the DBT program, without any evaluation or therapy. I had a total of 4 sessions including the initial consultation which I was billed for later as an evaluation. The Dr. I was placed with spent 3 sessions doing all the talking and giving me sales pitches to join group sessions. They lied to me about accepting insurance and EAP Programs, and the billing person argued that it was too much paperwork and they would no longer accept my employer health care. They proceeded to bill my insurance company and send me the balance due. The whole experience was a nightmare. You won't get good therapy here, but after visiting this place you'll need it for sure! read more

Having participated in a "make shift" DBT program through Kaiser, I had high hopes for the therapists in this Applied DBT Clinicians of San Diego program, but now that I am currently working with completely trained counselors in DBT, I see now that Applied DBT Clinicians of San Diego don't really know what they are doing. They have had SOME training via Marsha Linehan, but certainly not enough to deem themselves as DBT Clinicians. They boast that they attended a 10-day Marsha Linehand workshop, but my current DBT therapists attend these workshops about twice a year, every year, not just once, The therapists of Applied DBT Clinicians of San Diego, though compassionate and dedicated to helping others, are so out of their element here. If anything, this program caused more injury than good to my life. As couple's therapists, they stink, as they passively sit by and let arguments fly. I got the impression they were making shopping lists in their minds rather than focusing on the job. This was one of the worst therapy experiences in my life, and I've been in and out of therapy for over 20 years. DO NOT GO HERE FOR DBT, but don't give up on DBT; it really works, when done properly. All my best, read more

This is one of the best DBT groups in San Diego. All the therapist are very well educated in DBTand have formed great groups. There are groups for specific disorders, ages, and issues that you might need help with. Your one on one with your therapist helps you get more personal with dbt and allows for that extra guidance. read more

These folks are amazing! My daughter has been working with them for about a year now, and they have done wonders, not just for her, but for us as a family also. Her eating disorder is under control, and we as a family are so much closer. After about a year, she graduates next month. Her last therapist didn't get these results after seeing her for 2.5 years! Thank you Applied! read more

Awful. Worst place EVER. Don't do it. I got stuck with an intern without being told or asked until I was already at the appt. I was told the charge would be less. When I felt uncomfortable with my therapist after several visits and requested to see Bonnie, she told me she was "too busy" and said I should stay with the therapist I was uncomfortable with. she finally agreed to see me calling me back to CONFIRM our appt. When I showed up she was eating and said since I DIDN"T CALL HER BACK we had no appt on the books. Then 2 YEARS LATER I get a bill for $1000 for four appts with an intern. Their insurance guy had messed up and never billed insurance. FOUR YEARS LATER and after sending me to collections they finally figured out how to bill my insurance. I got a call asking for the remaining $40. After all that I had to go through they are still coming after me for $40. I have also called and emailed to try to pay this with no response. Please do not waste your time and most of all your money. They are awful! read more

Dr.Bonnie will tell it as it is, this is not to just "be heard" but is to work at your life worth living.... I've been going to Applied DBT for over a year, they follow protocol and once you joined the group your therapist will be available 24/7. Dr Bonnie has gone above and beyond what is expected from not only a therapist but a true friend, and yes, that has to do with things you don't want to do or hear, but at the end everything makes sense, you realize that is not just how your life is supposed to be but that you have control of your emotions and that you have options in the life you want to live and although you can't change the past and you don't know what the future holds you can live and enjoy the present, just like it is because like she says "everything is as it should be". I thank Bonnie for saving my life and my family and even if I have a long way to go I know I have someone by my side that looks for my best interest. read more