First Steps in DBT Development
DBT began gaining ground in Latvia in 2020 when four CBT therapists joined a training on DBT for complex PTSD, led by Prof. Martin Bohus and organized by the Estonian CBT Association. The first DBT teams were established in 2021—one in adult mental health, initiated by Prof. Ieva Bite from the University of Latvia, and one in adolescent care through the Adolescent Resource Centre lead by Romija Krezina. A key turning point came during a supervision session, where an international supervisor jokingly said a challenging client would be referred to DBT “to fill out worksheets.” That humorous remark sparked the start of DBT training with British Isles DBT Training.

Active Programmes
Today, Latvia has six DBT teams for adults operating in the private sector. Skills groups run both in-person and online, in Latvian and Russian. Costs are mostly covered by clients, though limited public funding is available. Five adolescent teams operate nationwide, offering full DBT (individual therapy, teen and parent skills groups, coaching) free of charge. These include teams at the Adolescent Resource Centre and the Children’s Clinical University Hospital.

National Association
The Latvian Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Association was established on 14 October 2022. It includes 47 members, primarily DBT-trained psychologists. The board members are Ieva Bite, Guna Geikina, Romija Krēziņa, and Ilze Plauča.

Training Structure
Latvia currently lacks certified DBT trainers, though two professionals are in the accreditation process. Training is delivered by British Isles DBT Training and Behavioral Tech, funded mainly through private sources and the donations raised by Adolescent Resource Centre. Recently.

Current Challenges

• Funding limitations, especially for adult services.
• Shortage of trained professionals, due to irregular access to training and lack of local trainers/supervisors.
• Sustaining adherence to DBT, particularly in maintaining team structures and session fidelity.

Advice to Others
Latvia’s progress was made possible by fully embracing the DBT spirit—living a life worth living, accepting realities, regulating emotions, and building effective communication. We recommend using DBT skills like DEAR MAN, GIVE, and FAST when advocating for funding and policy change.

Future Plans
We aim to raise awareness of DBT’s effectiveness and secure national funding. We plan to train local supervisors and trainers, expand research on outcomes, and strengthen cross-Baltic collaboration through conferences and workshops.

What We Offer and Need
We’re eager to share our experience securing funding, especially for youth services, and to support DBT research and innovation across client groups (e.g. ASD, ADHD, eating disorders, cognitive impairments). We welcome knowledge exchange and deeper collaboration through a European DBT platform.