The people who are reviewing this place clearly don't know how DBT works. I'm sorry if you don't want to do the homework; that's the problem. This place changed my brain and life. Expensive? Yes. Life changing? Also yes. The rules exist for a reason. You don't get to call your therapist for a reason if you self-harm. My therapists "punishing me" made that behavior stop as a young adult. If you want a therapist who is going to take your money every week, baby you, and let you complain to them - this isn't the place. You'll probably still be mentally in the same place in 5 years though - when others won't be. I moved to LA and although I have loved my LA doctor, I have never found a DBT practice more exceptional. read more

All I can say is, if the people giving the low ratings had been able to stick with the program here a little longer, I doubt they would be writing negative reviews - of anything. They might have ended up in a more empowering and accepting place where that kind of negativity wouldn't be the most satisfying expenditure of effort. I cannot over-emphasize how helpful the comprehensive DBT program here has been for me. All upside, no downside. Wish I'd done this years ago! read more

I want to amend my review since some further posters want to challenge viewpoints of others. Anyone is free to leave a negative or positive review. I suggest as you select a provider you look at multiple reviews to make an informed choice - good, bad, neutral. 1) DBT program veteran here of 5 plus years. Yes DBT does help with emotional reactivity and the skills are some of the most valuable one can learn. That being said, my opinion still stands and was not out of reactivity 2) Yes mental health providers do collaborate with one another to advise on treatment. But every single question response should not require a group consultation. This is not a black or white statement, with full confidence I can tell you not a single question was addressed in session 3) The attitude of Lisa N. I have never experienced pre provider (I moved) or in the DBT provider I now use. All I can do is relay my experience - maybe others had different ones The experience quite frankly makes me shudder when I do happen to recall it. I refer people through a forum I participate in to DBT, and I have intentionally mentioned this practice and relayed my personal experience. I hope they did their homework and made the best choice for their treatment...and wish all the best of luck! read more

The people who previously reviewed CBT/DBT clearly understand neither how the mental healthcare system works nor how dialectical behavioral therapy works. For simplicity, I will say now that I have had a fantastic experience at this center. My individual therapist is intelligent, professional, and helpful, and my group therapist is a great teacher and quite supportive. In my treatment at CBT/DBT, I have had nothing but positive experiences. To refute the original posts: 1. Mental health practitioners do not have to accept insurance; it is expensive for the center and the therapists cannot earn a living wage as easily. Anyone can personally submit claims to their insurance company, and you will be reimbursed for your visits. 2. Speaking of expenses, CBT/DBT is not a cheap center. However, neither is earning a degree to be allowed to work in the mental healthcare field. Therapists go through 6-10 years of intensive education, taking up loans along the way. Social service is not a field with high payoff and these therapists need to eat and pay rent in one of the most expensive cities in the world. 3. DBT is an intensive therapeutic program designed by some of the most intelligent minds in mental health. The program is supposed to comprise individual therapy, group therapy, and phone coaching. This is not a scheme, it is the program. When you sign up for DBT, you pay for 3 treatments. 4. Speaking of phone coaching, therapists are people too. Your therapist sleeps. Your therapist has family emergencies. Your therapist's phone dies. Realistically, one cannot expect their therapist to be 100% available 24/7 and 365 days a year. My therapist has always been responsive when possible and apologetic when impossible. 5. Seasoned therapists become therapists by doing therapy. If you pay the minimum rate, you will see a young therapist who will be trained and supervised by the team. 6. Speaking of collaboration, there is nothing wrong with a therapist seeking advice from their team. Having multiple minds working on the same case only enhances your treatment. read more

Thank you for everything. You may of saved my life. Around 5 years ago I was on medication for lots of things. Depression, ADHD... you name it. A lot of kids in the 90's were just drugged up and labeled for their problems. They didn't know what to do with us. It was a shame since for the majority of us... there was really nothing wrong. I was lucky I had the opportunity to learn about DBT in my early 20's. I went to therapy here for a few years and it was a huge help learning how to see the world positively and manage life. I have not been on any sort of medication to help with mood in almost 5 years. I am drug free. This is the impact this place has had on me. The fact that I am not ashamed to publicly post a review is proof I give my whole heart to this place. I am a different person. What other changes are there? Well, I am self-employed, I volunteer, I go to the gym every week, I have won awards, accolades, am in magazines and newspapers every month. I am a very well-rounded human being. I am engaged and take care of a little rescue dog. I have a social life. I would not of expected this when I was younger. I was a very lonely and bitter creature for a long time. CBT/DBT gives you the tools you may have not been taught as a child. I have learned to understand emotions and radically accept my past. There are still things I need to work on.. but I have my whole life to work on it. Do I still see them? No. Not for a long time. A while ago, I thought it was time to see if I could handle life for myself... and I am doing very well. I am very happy. The net is free and the only person responsible for me... is myself. If you are unsure if you want to venture into therapy... there are a ton of workbooks dealing just with this on Amazon. They are really worthwhile! read more

I had a very good experience with Dr. Haley Rottenberg. She kept focused on our agreed goals. She didn't push me to share or change anything but encouraged me to be focused on my stated goals instead of reacting to the often frustrating and inconsistencies of those around me. She listened diligently and was refreshingly frank about her limitations. In group, Dr. Lisa Napolitano and Dr. Kyle Haney were informed, resourceful, funny, challenging, and supportive. I learned abundantly from the group and the facilitators. What was most helpful is the clarity from all who were involved with my care (therapist, group facilitators, even the receptionists). If I was unsure about something, I could ask plainly and receive a clear response (even if it did not satisfy my own desires at the moment). The clarity of communication was best. read more

No surprise. The mental health "profession" is f-ed up, and this place is no exception. After making an appointment for the earliest intake possible because, after years of trying to find any help at all, I absolutely needed and wanted help badly. I waited days for their pre-intake form to arrive by email. It never did. So, I sent them email after email requesting it. Still no form. And then I called and found out they had no record of ever talking to me at all. I told them to f*c k it! Pardon my honesty. CBT/DBT Associates "may" be excellent. But they're completely screwed up administratively, or maybe the professional, or whatever she was, I'd spoken with to set up the intake forgot to write it down, so what's the point? And their fees are astronomical (about $300 a week if you go "pauper class") -- or I should say, "in line with other therapist's fees. And that means unless you're wealthy, eat sh*t! ** NO INSURANCE TAKEN ** read more

CBT DBT associates helped me overcome many challenges. Their practice is spectacular and I would recommend to anyone looking to improve their quality of life read more

I was not a 100% fan at first. The groups were not as personal as the other DBT center I used. They were relaxed about people coming in and out and I was unclear about who the people around me were and if they actually had problems. It was always the newbie who talked a little too much about herself that made it special. I think sharing needed to be encouraged more. If you are going there for group, chances are the millionth interaction with your boss is not the only thing that you would like to share with a group of like-wired people. But that can be fixed!! I see Rebecca for therapy and that has worked out really well. She gets five stars. I would write more but that might be odd since I still go here. BTW, writing reviews on Yelp - and keeping them fair and balanced - is a very mindful thing to do - participate participate!!! read more

I'm having a great experience at this center. My individual therapist, Dr. Lisa Napolitano, is professional, knowledgable and has a sophisticated sense of humor. She is teaching me how to employ lifelong coping skills to better deal with stress situations. After working with her for several months, I do believe that I have developed greater emotional resilience. I am so appreciative to be starting this new academic year with far less anxiety and emotional clutter. By the way, this is also a lovely environment in which to learn about yourself. The decor is that of a normal office but with a dash of calm. There is something so peaceful about the white orchids. Also, before and after appointments, I get to color pencil my heart out on images from coloring books attached to clipboards in the waiting room. This may sound trivial, but it speaks to the culture of the practice. These therapists understand that it's important to try all techniques. Everything helps when you are trying to better yourself. This is why I'm going to sign up for group sessions, DBT, at this practice as well. read more

Find another DBT program. In my experience, CBT/DBT Associates is best suited for the millennial whose parents are paying the hefty $400 per week charge and who doesn't actually need a dedicated caring professional individual therapist. This is a "by the books," heavily rules based DBT practice in which a group and individual will be assigned to you for weekly sessions. I found that half the group session was led by a sweet, but very junior, intern with little life experience who would read verbatim from the workbook. Despite the high price, I found there was absolutely no availability or willingness to provide aid in the DBT homework, which is an important, integral part of DBT skills building. But the troubling aspect is the individual therapist and his role. I found the "fine print" to be stunningly dangerous in this area: God forbid, you're in the middle of a crisis (e.g. self-harming), you may not reach out to the so called therapist you have been randomly assigned to. He's really just a teacher of DBT skills and will instruct you to call 911 and forbid you to reach out for another 24 hours. Worse, if you already have a caring human therapist that you have been working with and trust, I was told you must end that relationship and not receive any treatment from that therapist for the duration of your training with CBT/DBT Associates, which is typically 3-4 four month cycles. I broke that rule and was terminated from the program after 10 weeks of money ill spent. In short, my advice to you, If you actually have more than mild diagnosed psychological issue, is to run, don't walk, away from this practice. read more

What a WASTE!! So many programs in NYC for personality disorders, and all are on waiting lists. At Dialectical Behavior Therapy/CBT Ass. where Lisa Napolitano is Founder and Director you can kiss goodbye you're $275.00 initial consultation fee. They pretty much agree with everything you say, they propose you join their $100.00 per week groups PLUS $175.00-$225.00 individual sessions, totaling $1000.00 monthly. You cannot have one or the other. Or you kidding me? Highway robbery. They give no follow up call, have a shabby office, total total scam. Save your money. This is how Lisa Napolitano helps BPD? read more

This is my first review. And I feel forced to write it after reading the one (incredibly negative) review posted. I wasn't even looking for CBT DBT Associates on Yelp. I was just minding my business, googling the group to get to their website (I can never remember the URL) and Crystal B's review popped up. I was horrified that this was the only impression available, so here I am, attempting to provide information from someone who's actually been a DBT patient and a patient at CBT DBT Associates. The first thing in Crystal B's review I'd like to respond to is the cost of treatment at CBT DBT Associates. Yes, it's pricey, but not abnormally so. People who have experience with professional psychotherapy know that providers frequently do not accept insurance. CBT DBT Associates's rates are in line with market rates for DBT therapy offered in Midtown Manhattan by experienced and well-trained therapists. If you are looking for a provider that accepts insurance, I highly recommend the program at NY Presbyterian, but there is usually a waiting list. Secondly, DBT is designed to be delivered with individual AND group therapy conjointly. If you find a practitioner willing to offer either aspects alone to someone new to DBT, you should ask a lot of questions. The research results on DBT's effectiveness are about the joint therapy. Moreover, the purpose of each aspect of the therapy is different. The group therapy is like a class: you learn, practice, and discuss the core DBT skills with others. Individual therapy is used to track your progress towards achieving your goals, to work in-depth with individual issues, and to provide you with an on-call therapist who will coach you on the use of DBT skills between sessions. Many people work with DBT therapists on an individual basis without attending group, but that is only after completing the skills training modules in group. DBT was a god-send for me. I learned how to recognize and process my emotions, how to deal with challenging interpersonal situations more effectively, and how to tolerate very distressful emotions without hurting myself or others. I only attended the structured DBT program at CBT DBT Associates for a brief period of time (I ultimately attended and graduated from NY Presbyterian's program due to financial difficulties), but I never had any issues with the professionals delivering the therapy. After graduating from the structured DBT program at NY Presbyterian, I have now moved my treatment to CBT DBT Associates at the recommendation of my previous therapist. I no longer follow a structured DBT process, but my therapist has a background in DBT and refers to the skills as needed. My therapist is very good and worth the significant investment of time and money. Just one more thing to note: finding the right therapist for you can be a lengthy and challenging process. Often, one needs to have open discussions with one's therapist when treatment is not going as hoped. This can be difficult, but tends to help develop the relationship and improve the work (or it may underline the fact that you need a different therapist). You must also recognize that not all therapists have the same level of training and experience and those with more training and experience may cost more money. That's not to say that the more expensive a therapist, the better s/he is, but you may have to pay more to get what you need. Best of luck to all in their journey to better mental health! read more

This place is a chop shop. They charge extremely high rates $300 a private session, which a year ago was $225 a session and then pack as many bodies as possible into tiny airless conference rooms, and even their tiny offices, to form mandatory additional groups to maximize profit. The whole thing is a money making racquet. There is no sense of patient care, you are a number. Their groups are led by twenty somethings that are either current grad students or immature egotistical recent phd graduates. The leaders have little life experience to offer and and can be quite damaging to the clients in their lack of professionalism and immature boundaries in handling of these groups, i.e. adult bullying is practiced but they are slick when they do it. This practice takes you for an expensive and time consuming ride by requiring you attend their group for a few months to learn these skills. The skills are can be very helpful! However, you can buy the same book they use by Marsha Linehan on Amazon and take an Internet class or do another program in NY to assist with understanding the application of the skills, rather than sit in groups with the chiefly unemployed and over educated in NY, whose parents are paying for these services, no matter what age. They don't participate in insurance and their accounting and front desk is arcane. The practice does provide Ptsd treatment one on one, but again it is completing worksheets out of a book and you are required to attend several months of group so you can "handle the treatment with your newly acquired skills". Dont throw the baby out with the bathwater, the dialectical skills and ptsd treatment are great! Marsha Linehan did wonderful lifesaving work, but please find another program that is not shamelessly exploitative of people in need of this kind of help. Went thru both the group programs and counseling, so I am speaking from real, albeit expensive, experience. It will cost you monthly the same as rent for a studio in midtown, and the Internet, the book and other places in NY can provide you the training without the cattle herd exploitation or prohibitive costs. Good luck. read more

no empathy . unless you have big bucks, they do not want to help you. Don't waste your time. Over extended on their newly renovated office. read more

Money rules everything. This practice truly does not care for it's patients. They are a greedy group of ego maniacs. Perhaps if they moved from their luxury building on madison ave they could lower their prices and actually be able to help people. However, that is not what they care about. I have never had such cold, fake therapists in my life. The staff, including the people who work at the front desk are pretentious and rude. If you want DBT go to st. Luke's or take classes online. read more

Very unfortunate situation. Therapist won't give a patient his/her phone number in case of crisis unless one signs up for both group and private therapy. Minimum $300 per week for a student? Cancellation policy is unyielding even when the patient's schedule can change at a moments notice. It is a shame when money comes before helping patients. It is a crime when it comes before helping patients in crisis. read more

DO NOT SEND YOURSELF OR YOUR LOVED ONES TO LISA NAPOLITANO. I cannot say enough how callous and ingenuine these therapists are. The prices are outrageous, and the therapists do not care whatsoever for their clients. They claim to offer 24hr calling service for DBT patients. I struggle with self harm and suicidal ideation and was told to call when I felt overwhelmed. I twice called out of despair, only to have my calls be ignored by Lisa Napolitano. Another time, I was so distraught on the phone that I could not speak after saying who I was and Lisa simply took it upon herself to hang up. Lisa constantly deflected the conversation back to her in one-on-one sessions. She also pointed out other aspects of my life I should find depressing, that had never bothered me before. Please know that caring therapists exist, trained in DBT, and for less exorbitant therapies. Please go to one of them rather than this corporate facility that views patients strictly as customers. It will save you money and emotional anguish. Everyone deserves better. read more