What Is DBT?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is one of the most effective treatments available for helping people of all ages recover from complex emotional and behavioral problems.
DBT combines acceptance with meaningful change to help people understand their emotions, respond more effectively to stress, improve relationships, and replace behaviors that no longer work with practical, lasting skills.
DBT is one of the most extensively researched treatments for emotional dysregulation and behavioral problems. It’s used for people struggling with trauma, depression, anxiety, self-harm, substance use, personality disorders, and many other conditions where emotions become difficult to manage.
At MHS, DBT isn’t simply one of the therapies we offer. It is the foundation of who we are.
Why MHS?
For more than two decades, MHS has specialized in Dialectical Behavior Therapy.
Our clinicians receive extensive DBT training and work within a consultation team that maintains high quality, evidence-based care. This culture of continuous improvement allows us to provide treatment that is both compassionate and clinically sophisticated.
MHS is also home to internationally recognized DBT authority Dr. Lane Pederson, whose work has helped shape modern DBT practice through books, training, program development, and consultation with healthcare systems around the world. Dr. Pederson has trained more than 40,000 professionals worldwide and is the developer of the Dialectical Trauma Recovery Model (DTRM), which is the basis of the RISE for Trauma Stabilization and Recovery program.
While every therapist at MHS brings their own strengths and expertise, all share a commitment to providing high-quality DBT grounded in science, compassion, and practical skill building.
What makes DBT different?
Many therapies focus primarily on understanding why problems developed. DBT also asks an important second question:
“What skills will help you build the life you want starting today?”
Treatment focuses on helping people:
- Better understand and regulate emotions
- Manage crises without making situations worse
- Improve relationships and communication
- Reduce impulsive or self-destructive behaviors
- Build confidence and resilience
- Create a life that feels meaningful and worth living
DBT is practical. The skills are designed to be used outside the therapy office, where lasting change actually happens.
Who benefits from DBT?
DBT at MHS is designed for adolescents,and adults experiencing:
- Intense emotions
- Anxiety or depression
- Trauma and PTSD
- Self-harm or suicidal thoughts
- Borderline personality disorder
- Substance use concerns
- Relationship difficulties
- Emotion-driven behaviors that interfere with daily life
Whether you’re seeking help for yourself or someone you care about, DBT provides practical tools that can lead to meaningful, lasting change.
