Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches concrete skills for managing intense emotions, tolerating distress, and navigating relationships — especially valuable when emotions feel bigger than you can handle.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy was originally developed for individuals experiencing intense, hard-to-manage emotions, and it remains one of the most effective approaches available for exactly that. At its core, DBT balances acceptance — that your emotions and experiences are real and valid — with change, building real skills for responding to them differently.

At Midtown Recovery Center, DBT is offered as part of both our PHP and IOP programs, particularly for clients navigating emotional intensity, relationship difficulties, or impulsive behavior alongside substance use. Sessions focus on four core skill areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness, each building on the last.

DBT isn’t about suppressing emotions or pretending they don’t exist. It’s about learning to move through them without them controlling your choices.

Signs You May Need Treatment

• Emotions that feel intense, fast-moving, or hard to control
• A pattern of impulsive behavior, including substance use, during emotional distress
• Difficulty maintaining stable relationships
• Self-destructive thoughts or behaviors during moments of crisis
• Wanting concrete skills for the moments that feel unmanageable

Our Approach to Treatment

Mindfulness

DBT starts with building the capacity to notice thoughts and emotions without immediately acting on them.

Distress Tolerance

You’ll learn concrete skills for getting through crisis moments without making the situation worse.

Emotional Regulation

DBT teaches practical tools for understanding and managing intense emotions before they escalate.

Interpersonal Effectiveness

You’ll build skills for navigating relationships and communicating needs, even during conflict or high emotion.