Frequently Asked Questions

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based treatment designed to help people build a life that feels more manageable, meaningful, and worth living. DBT combines acceptance-based strategies with concrete tools for creating change. Unlike many forms of traditional talk therapy, DBT is highly structured and focuses on learning and practicing specific behavioral skills both inside and outside of sessions. It is present-focused, requires clients and therapists to agree to treat specific behaviors through therapy, and consists of both individual and group treatment.

DBT can be helpful for people who experience intense emotions, difficulty managing relationships, impulsive or self-destructive behaviors, chronic feelings of emptiness, frequent crises, or difficulty recovering after becoming emotionally overwhelmed. It can also be useful for people who simply want stronger skills for managing emotions, communicating effectively, tolerating distress, and making decisions that align with their goals.

DBT is for people who can articulate their problems in living, recognize their own responsibility for ameliorating these difficulties, and are willing to try new behaviors in all relevant contexts of their lives. It’s a treatment for people who want to take an active approach to treatment by gaining a new perspective, becoming well-versed in understanding why certain behaviors exist, and implementing new ways of approaching life, such as increased awareness of the present, tolerance of stress, effectively communicating, accepting what cannot be changed, and problem solving life’s difficulties.

No. DBT was originally developed for people with borderline personality disorder, but it has since been adapted and studied for many other concerns, including depression, bipolar disorders, substance use, eating disorders, and problems with emotion regulation. DBT also recognizes that pervasive invalidation can be traumatic and many folks who benefit from DBT may have experienced trauma or struggle with PTSD. DBT has a specific strategy for treating these experiences using Prolonged Exposure Therapy. Ultimately, a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder is not required to benefit from DBT.

Comprehensive DBT typically includes individual therapy, DBT skills training, between-session phone coaching, and a DBT consultation team for therapists. Each part of treatment serves a different purpose. Individual therapy focuses on your specific goals and behaviors, skills training teaches practical tools, and coaching helps you use those skills in real-life situations when they are most needed.

In comprehensive DBT, individual therapy and skills training are designed to work together. Skills training teaches the tools, while individual therapy helps you apply those tools to the specific problems and patterns affecting your life.

Some people may participate in DBT-informed treatment or skills training without the full comprehensive program, depending on their needs and the services available.

We also work to accommodate scheduling needs and, in some cases, may deliver skills individually.

The length of treatment depends on your needs and goals. A standard course of comprehensive DBT often lasts one year, specifically aligned with your skills group start date.

DBT skills group is more like a class than a traditional process group. The focus is on learning and practicing skills in four main areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Group members are not required to disclose deeply personal information, in fact, we ask you reserve this content for individual therapy. Skills group is solution-focused. The goal is to learn practical skills and apply them to everyday life.

Absolutely. DBT is often associated with crisis treatment because it has strong evidence for helping people with suicidal and self-harming behaviors, but the skills are useful far beyond crisis situations. Many people use DBT to improve relationships, manage anxiety, reduce impulsive behavior, communicate more effectively, strengthen boundaries, and respond differently to difficult emotions.

Comprehensive DBT provides clients participating in our DBT program with a DBT-trained individual therapist who is part of our DBT team and consultation.

If you want to work with your current therapist until you begin DBT, we find it can be helpful to collaborate with previous providers. We are also willing to help reconnect you with your therapist if needed upon graduation from DBT.

Insurance participation varies by clinician and service. Some members of our team may be able to bill insurance for individual therapy, while other services may be offered on a private-pay basis. We recommend contacting us so we can help clarify your options, expected costs, and whether your insurance may provide reimbursement for out-of-network services. It can also be helpful if you inquire with your insurance provider on coverage of groups and individual therapy services ahead of time.

Yes. Telehealth may be available for individual therapy and some DBT services, depending on clinical appropriateness, therapist availability, and where you are located at the time of service. We can help determine whether telehealth or in-person treatment is the best fit for your needs.

Before signing a contract agreeing to begin DBT, we offer four pre-treatment sessions. These sessions are designed to help both you and the therapist determine whether DBT, the therapist, and the client is a good fit.

We will meet with you to learn more about what you are experiencing, your treatment history, current concerns, and the changes you hope to make. We will also explain how DBT works, discuss expectations for treatment, and determine whether DBT is the right fit for your needs. If we recommend DBT, we will work with you to identify the most appropriate level of care and next steps.