What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based treatment developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan (a brief history written by a mentor here). It is now the leading treatment for borderline personality disorder (BPD) and the suicidal or self-harming behaviors that often accompany it. Research has also shown DBT to be highly effective for other challenges, including anxiety, depression, and substance or alcohol use.
DBT combines acceptance-based strategies—understanding, validating, and observing your emotions—with practical behavioral skills to help you create meaningful change. The approach is compassionate, non-judgmental, and grounded in the belief that people are doing the best they can and can learn new ways to cope.
Standard DBT is a comprehensive 12-month treatment that includes four components: weekly individual DBT sessions, weekly DBT skills group, phone coaching for in-the-moment support, and a therapist consultation team to ensure high-quality care. Together, these components help clients build emotional stability, healthier relationships, and a life that feels more aligned with their values.
DBT-informed therapy refers to using a DBT framework without all four components (for example, only individual therapy, or individual therapy plus phone coaching). If you're searching for a DBT therapist, it's completely appropriate to ask which components they offer and what training they have in comprehensive DBT.
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What is borderline personality disorder?
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is rooted in emotion dysregulation—meaning emotions feel more intense, shift more quickly, and take longer to return to baseline. People with BPD often experience deep sensitivity to shifts in their environment and relationships, a fear of people leaving, and high levels of internal pain, which can make relationships and daily life feel overwhelming. In the context of this emotional intensity, some individuals engage in ineffective coping behaviors, including self-harm, suicidal thoughts or actions, interpersonal conflict, or substance and alcohol use.
While there is often stigma surrounding BPD, the reality is that individuals with this diagnosis are highly empathetic, deeply feeling, and incredibly resilient. Their emotional intensity is not a character flaw; it’s a trait shaped by biology, past experiences, and the ways they’ve learned to cope.
The most effective and well-researched treatment for BPD is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). DBT helps individuals understand and regulate their emotions, navigate relationships, and reduce behaviors that create suffering. Recovery and improvement are not only possible—they’re expected. Long-term studies show that with evidence-based treatment, most people with BPD experience major reductions in symptoms and build stable, meaningful lives.
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How are types of therapists different?
Choosing a therapist can feel like navigating a sea of credentials—PhD, PsyD, LMFT, LCSW, and more. Each title reflects a slightly different background in education, training, and practice. To understand the key types and what they may mean for you, I invite you to read this clear guide by a colleague: Types of Therapists Explained.
