Dialectical Behavior Therapy

What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based treatment approach designed to help individuals regulate their emotions, navigate interpersonal challenges, and build a life worth living. Originally developed to treat borderline personality disorder, DBT has since been adapted to address various mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, substance use, eating disorders, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

At its core, DBT focuses on finding balance accepting where you are right now while working toward meaningful change. This balance, known as “dialectics,” is the foundation of DBT and drives its therapeutic techniques.

At Utah Center for Psychological Services, our therapists integrate DBT principles and skills into individual therapy to help clients build healthier coping strategies and create lasting change.

What You'll Learn in DBT

DBT involves four main skill areas, each targeting essential aspects of emotional and interpersonal well being:

Mindfulness: Learn to stay present in the moment, increase self awareness, and reduce reactivity to stressful situations. Mindfulness helps you observe your thoughts and feelings without judgment, fostering clarity and emotional stability.
Distress Tolerance: Build practical strategies to manage crises without making them worse. These skills help you tolerate emotional pain and navigate challenging situations in healthy ways.
Emotion Regulation: Gain tools to understand, label, and manage intense emotions. This helps reduce emotional overwhelm, making it easier to approach problems calmly and effectively.
Interpersonal Effectiveness: Improve your ability to communicate your needs, set boundaries, and strengthen relationships. These skills help you build healthy connections while maintaining self-respect.

Our Approach to DBT

At UCPS, we provide individual DBT-informed therapy tailored to each person’s needs.

Unlike comprehensive DBT programs, which typically include weekly individual therapy, skills training groups, phone coaching, and therapist consultation teams, our clinicians incorporate DBT techniques into one-on-one therapy sessions as part of an individualized treatment plan.

This approach allows clients to learn and practice evidence-based DBT skills while receiving personalized support that addresses their unique goals and challenges.

How Can DBT Help You?

If you experience intense emotions, struggle with self-destructive behaviors, or find it hard to maintain healthy relationships, DBT can help you develop the tools you need to thrive. Through a compassionate and structured approach, DBT empowers you to move from feeling overwhelmed or stuck to finding balance, resilience, and hope.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is This a Comprehensive DBT Program?

No. At Utah Center for Psychological Services, we provide individual therapy that incorporates Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) principles and interventions.

At this time, we do not offer:

Comprehensive DBT programs
DBT skills training groups
Between-session phone coaching
24/7 crisis coaching

If you’re looking for individual therapy that incorporates evidence-based DBT skills, we’d be happy to discuss whether one of our therapists is a good fit for your needs. If you’re specifically seeking a comprehensive DBT program, we’re also happy to help point you toward appropriate community resources.

Who Can Benefit from DBT-Informed Therapy?

Individual DBT therapy can be helpful for people experiencing:

Difficulty regulating emotions
Anxiety
Depression
Trauma or PTSD
Relationship challenges
Intense stress
Impulsivity
Self-esteem concerns
Difficulty managing conflict
Life transitions

Whether you’re experiencing long-standing emotional challenges or navigating a particularly stressful season of life, DBT skills can help you respond more effectively and build greater resilience.