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Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)

Skills for intense emotions, distress you can't escape, and relationships that keep blowing up.

Schedule an appointment Therapists who use it

33 of our 62 therapists use this approach.

DBT was developed for people whose emotions run hotter and longer than other people's, and who were often told their feelings were too much. The "dialectic" is holding two things at once: you are doing the best you can, and you need to do better. Acceptance and change, together.

It's a skills-based therapy. Rather than only talking about feelings, you learn concrete things to do with them: how to get through a crisis without making it worse, how to bring an emotion down, how to ask for what you need, and how to stay present when your mind wants to bolt.

We offer DBT-informed individual therapy and skills work with clinicians trained in DBT. A fully adherent DBT program adds a weekly skills group, phone coaching between sessions and a therapist consultation team; if that level of care is what you need, we'll say so and help you find it.

What we use it for

Is it a fit?

A good fit if your emotions feel unmanageable, if you self-harm or have urges to, if your relationships swing between extremes, or if you've been told you have BPD. Also widely used with teens.

What the evidence says

DBT is the best-studied treatment for borderline personality disorder and chronic self-harm, with strong evidence for reducing self-harm, suicidal behavior and hospitalization. Its skills are now used far beyond BPD, including with teens, eating disorders and emotional dysregulation of many kinds.

Common questions

Is DBT only for borderline personality disorder?

No. It was developed for BPD, but its skills help anyone whose emotions are intense and hard to manage, including teens, people with trauma histories, and people with eating disorders or anger problems.

What's the difference between DBT and CBT?

DBT grew out of CBT and shares its practical, skills-based style. It adds a heavy emphasis on acceptance and mindfulness, and on the relationship between you and your therapist, because for people with intense emotions, pure change-focused therapy can feel invalidating.

Where to find it

Based on our clinicians' current specialties, this approach is offered at ten locations:

Closer to Surfside Beach? Call (843) 894-0000; the right therapist may be available by video, or we'll suggest the nearest office with the right fit.

Ready when you are.

Call us or submit a short intake form. A Patient Account Representative will match you with a therapist, and most new clients have their first appointment within a few business days.

Schedule an appointment Call (843) 894-0000