Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) was developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan and is one of the most well-researched and effective treatments available for emotional dysregulation. It is widely used for depression, anxiety, eating disorders, PTSD, and anyone who struggles with intense emotions.

DBT is built on the idea that two things can be true at once — you are doing the best you can, and you need to do better. It combines acceptance-based strategies from mindfulness with change-based strategies from CBT. The result is a practical, skills-focused approach that produces measurable change in how you think, feel, and act.

What We Help With

• 1
  Emotion Regulation

  Learn to identify, understand, and effectively manage intense emotions rather than being controlled by them.
• 2
  Distress Tolerance

  Develop strategies for surviving crisis moments without making things worse.
• 3
  Mindfulness

  Cultivate moment-to-moment awareness that reduces reactivity and increases clarity of mind.
• 4
  Interpersonal Effectiveness

  Build skills for maintaining healthy relationships — asking for what you need and setting limits assertively.
• 5
  Reduce Self-Destructive Behavior

  Address patterns of self-harm, substance use, or impulsive behavior through structured skill-building.
• 6
  Build a Life Worth Living

  Move beyond symptom reduction toward a life that feels meaningful, connected, and fulfilling.

Our Therapeutic Approaches

The Four DBT Skill Modules

DBT is structured around four core skill modules: Mindfulness (the foundation of all DBT skills), Distress Tolerance (getting through a crisis without making it worse), Emotion Regulation (understanding and managing intense feelings), and Interpersonal Effectiveness (maintaining relationships while respecting yourself).

Skills are taught didactically and then practiced in real life, with homework assigned between sessions to reinforce learning.