Can minorities benefit from DBT?

Based on the biosocial model, minority populations would incur more invalidation compared the majority population. Invalidation worsens dysregulation, increases stress, leads to unequal opportunities, etc.  It could be predicted that minority status would increase odds for an individual to suffer more dysregulation and benefit from a treatment like DBT.

Historically DBT has completed many trials for diverse clinical populations. At the 2022 ISIT DBT Conference Melanie Harned, PhD addressed inclusion and equity during her annual review of DBT research and progress. She had joined other researchers to look at the demographic data for many of the completed research trials.  They found that minorities in clinical populations often match or are over-represented compared to the general population. For instance, the percentage of gay individuals in many DBT studies is double the percentages found in the general population.

DBT is considered flexibly rigid and rigidly flexible. It can adapt to various populations, while being adherent to the core concepts. However, clinicians cannot rest on their laurels.  Clinicians must be aware of their own fallibility and limited understanding of the various subcultures from where their clients developed and live. Clinicians must seek feedback for where they may misunderstand other’s experiences.  Clinicians must unearth any unhelpful assumptions they may hold of other cultures, since these assumptions may lead to treatment interfering behaviors on behalf of the clinician.   

All Therapists are Jerks, and . . .: Can Minorities Benefit From DBT? (libsyn.com)