I am Christal Rothrock, a DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified Counselor ™ (DBT-LBC).
I am also a Licensed Professional Counselor in Colorado, Oregon, and Arizona.
My professional path in Dialectical Behavior Therapy came by chance, and has changed my professional Path in ways I could have never imagined.
I began working in the behavioral health field in 1999 with at-risk youth in crisis centers and group-home settings. It was not until my work in residential treatment that I became passionate about helping those who struggle with suicide and other self-harm behaviors. This led me to pursue my graduate degree in psychology in 2007 at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. At Chatham I started my foundational training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and became a dedicated research-based behavioral clinician. Then in 2009 I was fortunate to have a 9-month internship opportunity with Gateway Rehabilitation, an intensive outpatient program based in Dialectical Behavior Therapy. This is when I became committed to providing DBT to underserved populations.
As I continued training in DBT, I worked in various positions in non-profit, private, forensic, and university settings. I also dedicated part-time work to both private rehabilitation treatment and crisis center services. I began to train others in DBT, as funding was limited and clinicians desperately needed the DBT model to work with their high-risk clients. Recognizing the need to ensure fidelity in my practice, I took the leap to pursue DBT Certification. In 2016 I trained with Marsha Linehan, Ph.D. and her team at Behavioral Tech in Seattle, Washington. There I received my advanced training in DBT. I became a member of Dr. Linehan’s meditation group, Empty Cloud Sangha, and participate in silent retreats as well as my personal daily meditation practice.
Expanding services in Oregon, I facilitated the development of DBT programs in both forensic and outpatient settings. Throughout my professional experiences, I have worked with some of the most dedicated clinicians to DBT, who I am honored to remain in contact with to this day. Currently, as a therapist in southern Colorado, I continue to provide DBT to disenfranchised rural communities.
Now, more than ever, there is a great need for DBT services. Not every clinician will specialize in DBT and yet will serve people who can benefit from DBT interventions. This is why I invite you to attend training and engage in consultation to increase your clinical competencies in this life-saving modality.
In Gratitude,
Christal
DBT-Linehan Certification Board, Certified Clinician (#1365)