Northeast Health Services is dedicated to supporting your mental health. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, we encourage you to reach out for immediate support through your local crisis services by dialing 988, contacting your local emergency services, or visiting your local emergency room.
Taking the first step toward mental health treatment can be overwhelming, especially when you’re faced with unfamiliar terms and options. At Northeast Health Services, we believe that understanding your care should feel empowering—not confusing. One approach that’s been life-changing for many people is dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).
Whether you’re living with intense mood swings, overwhelming anxiety, or a history of trauma, DBT may offer the support you’ve been searching for. Explore what dialectical behavior therapy is—how it works, and why it might be a powerful part of your healing process—with the help of our knowledgeable team. Call Northeast Health Services at 508.794.8711 today to learn how DBT and other mental health treatment services can support you.
Understanding dialectical behavior therapy
Dialectical behavior therapy is a type of talk therapy that focuses on helping people manage intense emotions, build healthier relationships, and reduce behaviors that may be harmful to themselves or others. It’s often used for people who experience frequent emotional ups and downs or have difficulty managing stress, especially those living with borderline personality disorder (BPD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, or chronic suicidal thoughts.
Developed by psychologist Marsha Linehan in the 1980s, DBT is rooted in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) but introduces a key element: acceptance. The term “dialectical” refers to holding two seemingly opposite truths simultaneously, like accepting yourself as you are while working to change. For many, that balance creates space for real healing.
Who can benefit from DBT?
Initially created to help individuals living with borderline personality disorder, DBT is now used to support many mental health conditions. DBT may be especially helpful if you:
- Feel your emotions are often “too much” or overwhelming
- React quickly or impulsively in emotional situations
- Struggle with self-harming thoughts or behaviors
- Find it hard to trust or maintain relationships
In short, DBT can help you feel more stable, more connected, and more in control.
What can you expect in a DBT session?
Starting any therapy can be nerve-wracking. DBT sessions are structured but supportive, with a strong emphasis on validation and safety.
In individual therapy, your therapist will likely begin by helping you identify your biggest emotional challenges and goals. Together, you’ll explore what triggers your stress and how you currently respond. Over time, you’ll learn and practice specific skills that can help you respond differently.
In skills training groups, expect a classroom-like setting. You’ll review homework, learn new skills, and participate in group exercises. Many people find these groups less intimidating than expected, especially since everyone is learning together.
Most importantly, you’ll never be asked to “just get over it” or told that your feelings don’t matter. DBT is rooted in compassionate care for your mental well-being and respect for your experiences.
How does DBT work?
DBT isn’t just one type of therapy—it’s a structured, skills-based approach that combines different elements of care to support you on multiple levels.
Here’s what DBT often includes:
- Individual therapy: One-on-one sessions with a therapist help you apply DBT skills to your own life and experiences.
- Skills training groups: These sessions focus on building practical tools like emotion regulation, mindfulness, and distress tolerance.
- Phone coaching: In some versions of DBT, therapists offer brief phone support to help you apply skills in real-life situations.
- Therapist consultation teams: Your DBT therapist may work as part of a team, ensuring consistency and support for providers—so you get the best care possible.
This layered support structure can help you feel less alone, especially if you’ve struggled to make progress with other types of therapy. It’s a model built to meet you where you are, with treatment on your terms.
What are the core skills taught in DBT?
The skills you learn in dialectical behavior therapy are grounded in four key areas. These skills help you respond to life’s challenges with more balance and self-awareness:
- Mindfulness: Being present in the moment without judgment. You learn how to notice your thoughts and feelings without getting swept away by them.
- Distress tolerance: Building the ability to handle emotional pain in the short term without resorting to behaviors that could cause harm.
- Emotion regulation: Understanding and managing intense emotions, so they don’t control your decisions or your relationships.
- Interpersonal effectiveness: Developing healthy boundaries and communication strategies so you can advocate for yourself and build more fulfilling relationships.
These skills aren’t just theoretical—they’re practical tools you can use in everyday situations. From managing conflict with a loved one to calming your body during a panic attack, DBT gives you a concrete framework for moving through life with more stability.
Is DBT effective?
Yes—and research backs it up. A growing body of studies has shown that DBT is especially effective for people living with chronic emotional dysregulation and self-destructive behaviors. In a recent two-year randomized controlled trial, individuals receiving DBT were significantly more likely to stay in treatment and show improvement in suicidal ideation and self-harm compared to those in other therapies.
Other studies have found DBT to be highly beneficial for people with PTSD, particularly those with complex trauma. And for teens and adolescents dealing with intense mood swings or behavioral issues, DBT has shown promising outcomes in reducing emergency room visits and improving emotional resilience.1
At Northeast Health Services, we’ve seen firsthand how treatment that supports you can lead to transformation. DBT is just one of many tools we use to help our clients feel better and build lives worth living.
How does DBT compare to other types of therapy?
It’s important to know that dialectical behavior therapy is not the only approach and is not right for everyone. While DBT focuses heavily on emotional and interpersonal skill-building, other therapies might be a better fit depending on your goals and personality.
Here are a few ways DBT compares to other common approaches:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT helps people identify and shift negative thought patterns. DBT builds on this but adds emotional acceptance as a core principle.
- Psychodynamic therapy: This therapy looks at how past experiences shape present behaviors. It’s more insight-focused, while DBT is skills-based.
- EMDR therapy: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is commonly used for trauma and works by helping people reprocess painful memories. It’s less focused on daily emotion regulation.
Northeast Health Services offers DBT, CBT, and other therapeutic options tailored to your unique needs. No matter what path you’re on, we believe in treatment that supports you—not one-size-fits-all care.
Take the first step toward emotional balance with Northeast Health Services in Massachusetts
Living with emotional ups and downs can feel exhausting, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Dialectical behavior therapy may be the supportive, evidence-based approach that helps you feel more grounded, more empowered, and more at peace. Northeast Health Services is here to help you manage your mental health. Give us a call today at 508.794.8711 to learn more.
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