Clinically Reviewed by Dr. Kate Smith
What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a core component of the treatment programs at Greater Boston Behavioral Health, helping individuals address a broad range of mental health conditions. Originally developed to support people with extreme emotional dysregulation and borderline personality disorder, DBT has proven effective for a range of mental health challenges including trauma, depression, and anxiety.
Our specialized DBT program is designed to empower clients with practical skills to manage emotional difficulties, reduce impulsive behavior, and improve their ability to handle stressful situations.
Are intense emotions taking over?
It can feel like too much—but support is closer than you think.
DBT helps you slow things down, cope, and regain balance.
The Four Core Skills of DBT
DBT is built around four skill groups that help people understand and respond to emotional experiences more effectively. These skills are practiced regularly so they become reliable responses, not emergency strategies.
Mindfulness Noticing thoughts, emotions, and sensations as they happen — without immediately reacting to them. Mindfulness is the foundation the other three skill areas build on.
Distress Tolerance Getting through difficult emotional moments without making the situation worse. These are the skills people reach for in a crisis or when emotions feel unbearable.
Emotional Regulation Understanding what drives emotional reactions and learning to reduce their intensity. This is where people build day-to-day stability.
Interpersonal Effectiveness Communicating clearly, setting boundaries, and navigating conflict without damaging relationships or abandoning your own needs.
Patterns DBT Is Designed to Address
DBT is most helpful when emotional reactions feel too intense, too fast, or too difficult to manage on your own.
People often explore DBT when they’re dealing with:
- Emotional reactions that escalate quickly or feel out of proportion
- Impulsive behaviors or harmful coping patterns
- Recurring conflict in close relationships
- Chronic emotional overwhelm or shutdown
- Difficulty tolerating distress without reacting
- A sense that emotions take control of situations before there’s time to think
DBT is also commonly used alongside treatment for depression, anxiety, and trauma — but those conditions are typically addressed through their own treatment pathways at Greater Boston Behavioral Health.
Benefits of Dialectical Behavior Therapy
DBT offers numerous benefits to clients experiencing mental health concerns. Some of the key advantages include:
- Emotional Regulation: DBT helps individuals manage overwhelming emotions by teaching techniques that promote calm and reduce emotional intensity. This is particularly helpful for those experiencing anxiety, depression, or emotional instability.
- Improved Coping Skills: Clients learn healthier ways to cope with stress and emotional triggers. DBT introduces practical skills such as mindfulness, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness to support emotional regulation and day-to-day functioning.
- Reduced Impulsive Behaviors: By focusing on mindfulness and emotional regulation, DBT helps decrease impulsive decision-making and promotes healthier, more intentional choices.
- Stronger Interpersonal Relationships: The therapy equips clients with communication skills that improve relationships and reduce conflict, helping build stronger, more supportive social connections.
- Long-term Recovery Support: DBT’s structured approach provides clients with lasting tools to navigate ongoing emotional challenges and support long-term mental health stability.
By integrating DBT into treatment, GBBH provides a holistic approach that addresses both mental and behavioral health, supporting emotional balance and long-term well-being.
DBT vs Other Therapies
People often ask how DBT compares to other approaches. Here’s how we think about it.
DBT vs CBT CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) focuses on identifying and changing thought patterns that drive emotional responses. DBT focuses more heavily on managing emotional intensity and behavior in the moment, with structured skills practice.
Many treatment plans include elements of both.
DBT vs Trauma Therapy Trauma therapy — including modalities like EMDR — focuses on processing past experiences directly. DBT focuses on building emotional stability in the present.
For many people, these approaches work best together: DBT builds the regulation skills that make trauma processing more manageable.
How DBT Is Used in Treatment at Greater Boston Behavioral Health
DBT is rarely used in isolation. At Greater Boston Behavioral Health, DBT skills are integrated into structured treatment plans alongside individual therapy, group sessions, and psychiatric care when appropriate.
Most clients encounter DBT within one of our levels of care:
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) Clients in our PHP practice DBT skills daily in a structured, full-day setting. PHP is often the right starting point when emotional instability is significantly impacting daily functioning or when stepping down from a higher level of care.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) Our IOP incorporates DBT skills training while giving clients the flexibility to maintain work, school, or family responsibilities. IOP works well as a step-down from PHP or as a starting point when emotional challenges are meaningful but don’t require full-day support.
Individual and group sessions Across both programs, clients engage in individual DBT-informed therapy and group skills training — the combination that makes DBT most effective.
DBT Facts & Statistics
Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies. “Dialectical Behavior Therapy | Fact Sheet.” ABCT – Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, 6 Mar. 2021, www.abct.org/fact-sheets/dialectical-behavior-therapy/.
Linehan, Marsha M., and Chelsey R. Wilks. “The Course and Evolution of Dialectical Behavior Therapy.” American Journal of Psychotherapy, vol. 69, no. 2, Apr. 2018, pp. 97–110, https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.2015.69.2.97.
Priebe, Stefan, et al. “Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for Self-Harming Patients with Personality Disorder: A Pragmatic Randomised Controlled Trial.” Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, vol. 81, no. 6, 2012, pp. 356–65, https://doi.org/10.1159/000338897.
“Can DBT Help Borderline Personality Disorder? | Mental Health Services.” MHS, 12 Mar. 2020, www.mhs-dbt.com/blog/dbt-and-borderline-personality-disorder/.
Chapman, Alexander L. “Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Current Indications and Unique Elements.” Psychiatry (Edgmont), vol. 3, no. 9, Matrix Medical Communications, Sept. 2006, pp. 62–68, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2963469/.
Finding DBT Treatment near Me
At Greater Boston Behavioral Health, we provide DBT treatment for individuals seeking help dealing with mental health issues in a supportive, affirming environment. Our goal is to help clients manage their symptoms and improve their overall well-being. To learn more about our DBT program please call us at (888)278-0716 or visit our location in Needham, MA.
Greater Boston Behavioral Health: 322 Reservoir Street Needham, MA 02494
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This represents our commitment to following recognized best practices in behavioral health. It signals that we go beyond the basics — focusing on safe, ethical, evidence-based care at every step.
Conditions We Treat With DBT at Greater Boston Behavioral Health
DBT is a key treatment modality for a range of mental health issues. The conditions we treat using DBT include:
- Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): DBT was originally developed to help individuals struggling with BPD manage emotional dysregulation and impulsivity.
- Anxiety Disorders: DBT teaches mindfulness and distress tolerance skills to manage anxiety symptoms.
- Depression: By building emotional resilience, DBT helps reduce depressive episodes and supports emotional stability.
- Trauma & (PTSD): DBT helps trauma survivors process painful emotions and develop healthier coping strategies.
- Self-Harm and Suicidal Behaviors: DBT is highly effective in reducing self-harming tendencies and promoting safety.
Our specialized DBT programs at GBBH provide clients with the skills and strategies necessary to manage these conditions and foster long-term emotional and behavioral well-being.
Is DBT Treatment Covered By My Insurance Provider?
To confirm your insurance coverage for DBT at Greater Boston Behavioral Health, begin by reaching out to your insurance provider to inquire about the specifics of your plan. You can also check your coverage online or review your benefits handbook for detailed information. At GBBH, our team is here to help you navigate your insurance plan and determine which services are covered. We strive to make the process easy so you can focus on getting the care you need.
What Does the DBT Admissions Process Entail?
The admissions process for Dialectical Behavior Therapy at Greater Boston Behavioral Health is designed to be smooth and supportive. It begins with an initial consultation where our team assesses your emotional and behavioral needs, reviews your mental health history, and explores your therapy goals. This evaluation allows us to determine if DBT is the right fit for you and to create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your situation. Once the assessment is complete, our admissions team helps with the necessary paperwork, coordinates with your insurance provider, and answers any questions you may have.
FAQs About Our Dialectical Behavior Therapy Program in Boston, Massachusetts
DBT is a skills-based therapy that helps people regulate emotions, improve relationships, and reduce harmful behaviors.
DBT helps people with borderline personality disorder, mood swings, trauma, or self-destructive behaviors.
DBT programs often last several months and include individual therapy, group skills training, and coaching.
DBT focuses on mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.
DBT treats borderline personality disorder, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and co-occurring substance use.
Yes. DBT often works alongside CBT, trauma therapy, or medication management.
Yes. Research shows DBT reduces emotional distress, self-harm, and suicidal thinking.
Many continue practicing DBT skills independently or with outpatient therapy. GBBH helps maintain progress.
Feeling overwhelmed or out of control?
DBT is designed to help you build stability — one skill at a time.
We’ll help you get started when you’re ready.
What Are the Costs of DBT Services?
The cost of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) at GBBH varies depending on the type and frequency of care, including therapy sessions and medication management. For detailed pricing, we recommend contacting our admissions team. We collaborate with insurance providers and offer financial assistance to ensure you get the support you need. For detailed information, contact our admissions team. We work with insurance providers and offer financial assistance to help manage expenses and ensure you get the support you need.
Knowing your payment options is essential for making informed decisions about your DBT treatment options. We suggest reviewing your insurance policy or calling us at (888)278-0716. At GBBH, our team is here to help verify your insurance coverage.
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