DBT
can help.
What is DBT?
If you struggle to manage your emotions, control impulsive behaviors, or maintain healthy relationships, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) can help. DBT is a specialized type of therapy that integrates strategies for acceptance – of yourself, your emotions, and the challenges you face – with strategies for bringing about change in your life. DBT was originally developed for people with Borderline Personality Disorder, and over the last several decades research has found it to be helpful for a variety of other challenges as well. The ultimate goal of DBT is for you to build a life that you experience as fulfilling, meaningful, and joyful, rather than full of suffering.
How DBT Can Help
If you are someone who has always struggled with your emotions, DBT may be right for you. DBT is particularly helpful for people who experience emotions more quickly and intensely, or have trouble “coming down” emotionally when experiencing strong feelings.
Our emotions often have a significant impact on our relationships and can lead to conflict, fears of abandonment, or the end of a relationship (all of which, in turn, lead to more painful emotions). DBT can help you maintain and even improve your relationships, as you will learn strategies for managing your emotions more effectively as well as specific skills for coping with relationship challenges.
DBT has been shown through decades of research to be highly effective for people who struggle with various problematic, impulsive, or dangerous behaviors. These include reckless alcohol or drug use, emotional eating, risky sexual behavior, impulsive spending or gambling, self-harm, suicidal thoughts and urges, and more.
What DBT Includes
Individual therapy
Your therapist will work with you to address the problems that are causing suffering in your life, as well as help you move toward your goals and the life you want. Individual sessions are typically once per week, though your specific treatment plan will be determined by you and your therapist.
Skills Training Group
One of the central goals of DBT is for you to learn and develop skills to increase your ability to manage the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that cause problems in your life. These skills are taught in an educational group format, much like a classroom setting. Our DBT groups meet weekly for 90 minutes.
Phone Coaching
Since we can’t plan ahead for every challenge that you face, phone coaching provides you with the opportunity to get suggestions from your therapist in real time on an as-needed basis. This will allow you to deal more effectively with problems that may arise, as well as further develop your ability to use the skills that you learn in group and individual therapy sessions.
Consultation Team
DBT requires that all therapists receive ongoing support and education within a team of other DBT therapists. These weekly consultation meetings are an integral part of any comprehensive DBT program, and help ensure that your therapist is providing the most effective treatment.
Graduate Group
This bi-weekly group is an option for clients who wish to continue working on DBT skills after completing the DBT skills training group. Group members work collaboratively with each other and the group leader to discuss strategies for enhancing their lives and addressing challenges that they face.
DBT Specialty
Programs at NYCBT
Adolescent
DBT
This adaptation of DBT is specifically for teenagers who struggle to manage their emotions, have difficulty in relationships with friends or family, or engage in impulsive or self-destructive behavior.
DBT PE
for PTSD
Get help for trauma or PTSD within the framework of DBT in this highly specialized treatment that integrates Prolonged Exposure therapy and comprehensive DBT.
LGBTQ+ DBT
Skills Group
Learn DBT skills in an environment where your LGBTQ+ identity is validated and you can feel safe discussing problems related to sexuality and gender.