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Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

A Refined, Evidence-Based Approach to Emotional Transformation.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based, integrative psychotherapy developed by Marsha Linehan, PhD, in the 1970s to support individuals experiencing chronic emotional suffering. Originally created for those diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, DBT has since evolved into the gold-standard treatment for emotional dysregulation and is now widely used to treat depression, anxiety, trauma-related symptoms, and eating disorders.

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Modern DBT blends:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

  • Mindfulness + meditation practices

  • Behavioral science

  • Dialectical philosophy

 

​. Together, these elements create a powerful framework designed to help individuals:

  • Understand and regulate overwhelming emotions

  • Build a deeper sense of self-awareness and mental mastery

  • Cultivate meaningful, stable relationships

  • Reduce impulsive or reactive behaviors

  • Navigate daily stressors with confidence and resilience

 

At the heart of DBT is a compassionate dialectic:

“I am doing the best I can—and I can learn new skills to do better.”

DBT Components

1. DBT Skills Training Group

Structured. Experiential. Transformational.

 

Distinct from process or support groups, DBT Skills Training Groups offer a highly structured, classroom-style learning experience where participants are taught the core skills required for emotional balance and relational wellbeing.

 

Groups meet weekly for 24 weeks and include weekly skills practice assignments to reinforce integration into daily life. Skills training focuses on four pillars:

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Mindfulness

The heart of DBT. Mindfulness teaches how to stay grounded in the present moment with clarity and non-judgment. You’ll learn to step back from unhelpful thought patterns, regulate attention, and respond with intention rather than impulse.

 

Distress Tolerance

​These skills empower you to withstand emotional crises without resorting to harmful behaviors. You’ll learn to navigate urges, stress, and overwhelm with steadiness, wisdom, and self-control.

 

Interpersonal Effectiveness

Designed to elevate the way you relate to others, these skills teach how to set healthy boundaries, communicate needs, maintain self-respect, and cultivate relationships that feel reciprocal and fulfilling.

 

Emotion Regulation

You will learn how to identify emotions accurately, decrease emotional vulnerability, reduce unwanted emotional intensity, and build a more stable internal landscape.

 

Practiced consistently, these four pillars support a more balanced, intentional, and connected life.

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2. DBT Individual Therapy

Personalized guidance tailored to your growth.

 

Individual DBT therapy deepens your work by helping you apply skills to the real-world challenges that shape your daily emotional experience. Together, you and your therapist collaborate to clarify what prevents you from living a life aligned with your values—and develop strategies to reduce those barriers and strengthen adaptive behaviors.

 

Sessions occur weekly for approximately 60 minutes and run concurrently with the Skills Training Group.

 

3. DBT Phone Coaching

Support when you need it most.

 

Phone coaching offers real-time guidance for navigating difficult moments outside of session. Clients can reach out between appointments for brief skill-based coaching, ensuring DBT remains practical and accessible in everyday life.

The Four Stages of DBT

DBT unfolds across four transformative stages:

 

Stage 1 — Stabilization

Reducing life-threatening, self-harm, or severely destructive behaviors.​

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Stage 2 — Emotional & Relational Strengthening

Improving distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.​

 

Stage 3 — Building Stability & Confidence

Cultivating autonomy, clarity, and healthier patterns in relationships and daily functioning.​

 

Stage 4 — Creating Meaning & Purpose

This stage focuses on personal fulfillment, clarity of values, and creating a life that feels deeply aligned and intentional.

Your Next Step With A Life In Balance

Now that you’ve explored the foundations of Dialectical Behavior Therapy—its philosophy, structure, and core skill sets—you may be ready to begin applying these tools in a beautiful, structured, and deeply supportive environment.

 

With a Certified DBT Therapist guiding the process, clients receive a level of depth, structure, and fidelity to DBT’s clinical model that elevates the entire experience.

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If you’re considering DBT as part of your healing and growth journey, we invite you to learn more about our signature Skills Training Program and how it can support your shift toward emotional mastery and a more balanced, fulfilling life.

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