Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a structured, evidence-based therapy designed to help people manage intense emotions, improve relationships, and cope with distress in healthier ways. At Modern Insight Therapy, DBT is offered as a supportive and practical approach that combines acceptance and change—meeting clients exactly where they are while giving them the tools to build the life they want.

DBT focuses on four core skill areas: mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. Through individual therapy, skills training, and real-life application, clients learn how to better understand their emotions, reduce impulsive reactions, and create stronger connections with themselves and others.

While DBT doesn’t follow five formal “steps” in the way some treatments do, it’s often organized into five key stages or elements of the treatment process. At Modern Insight Therapy, we guide clients through these phases with care and flexibility:

1. Pretreatment – Establishing goals, building trust, and determining whether DBT is the right fit.

2. Stage 1: Stabilization – Focusing on reducing harmful behaviors and increasing emotional safety.

3. Stage 2: Processing Trauma or Emotional Pain – Addressing unresolved emotional experiences once safety is established.

4. Stage 3: Developing Self-Respect and Daily Functioning – Building a life worth living through goals, relationships, and personal values.

5. Stage 4: Ongoing Fulfillment – Promoting joy, purpose, and deeper well-being beyond symptom management.

This process is always personalized—your therapist at Modern Insight Therapy will tailor the approach to meet your unique needs.

CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) are both effective, evidence-based treatments—but they have different goals and approaches.

• CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors through cognitive restructuring.

• DBT includes those CBT elements, but goes further by adding a strong emphasis on mindfulness, emotional regulation, and acceptance, especially in the context of intense or rapidly shifting emotions.

At Modern Insight Therapy, we often recommend DBT for clients who experience emotion dysregulation, relationship difficulties, or self-harming behaviors. DBT also tends to be more structured, with clearly defined skills and strategies taught over time.

DBT is not a one-size-fits-all solution. While it’s incredibly effective for many people, including those with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), mood disorders, and emotional regulation challenges, it may not be the best fit for everyone.

At Modern Insight Therapy, we typically do not recommend DBT for individuals who:

• Are unable to commit to regular sessions or homework assignments

• Are seeking unstructured, insight-based therapy rather than skills training

• Are experiencing acute psychosis or cognitive impairments that interfere with skill application

Our clinicians take time during the intake process to ensure that DBT—or any therapy we offer—is aligned with your goals, needs, and capacity. If it’s not the right fit, we’ll help you explore other therapeutic options at Modern Insight that may better serve your journey.