DBT-informed skills
Practical skills for riding out intense emotions, handling crises and getting along better with the people in your life.
What it is
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) was developed for people whose emotions feel too big, too fast or too hard to control. Its skills are now used much more widely, for anyone who wants better ways to handle strong feelings and stressful moments.
"Dialectical" means holding two things at once: accepting yourself as you are, and working to change. Our clinicians draw on DBT skills within individual therapy. We do not run a full DBT program with skills groups and phone coaching.
The four skill areas
- Mindfulness: noticing what's happening without judging it
- Distress tolerance: getting through a crisis without making it worse
- Emotion regulation: understanding and steadying your emotions
- Interpersonal effectiveness: asking for what you need and setting limits
What sessions look like
Your therapist will teach specific skills, practice them with you in session and help you use them in real situations between sessions. Many people keep a short log of which skills they tried and how it went.
If you're looking for a full DBT program with a skills group, tell us when you request an appointment and we'll help you find the right fit.
You don't need to pick an approach
If you have a preference, mention it when you request an appointment and we'll match you with a clinician who uses it. Every person responds to different things, so your clinician may combine approaches, with or without medication.
