How Dialectical Behaviour Therapy works, what it treats, and why we deliver it one-to-one.
DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy) is a structured, evidence-based form of talking therapy that teaches practical skills for managing intense emotions, tolerating distress, and improving relationships. It builds on CBT and was developed originally to help people who experience severe emotional dysregulation.
DBT was developed by psychologist Dr. Marsha Linehan, adding an emphasis on acceptance alongside change to CBT’s foundations. It’s organised around four skill modules: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness — giving people concrete tools for moments of crisis, not just reflective insight afterward.
Originally developed for chronic emotional dysregulation, DBT is now used for anxiety, trauma-related distress, and addiction, particularly where emotional overwhelm drives relapse. Many people managing substance use are, in effect, managing unbearable emotional states the only way they’ve learned to — DBT works on that mechanism directly.
DBT is often delivered through group skills-training elsewhere. At Holina Executive, every skills session happens privately between a client and clinician — protecting privacy, allowing pacing around the individual, and integrating DBT skills directly into wider trauma and addiction treatment.
Sessions typically review the week, teach or revisit a specific skill, apply it to real challenges, and set practice for the days ahead — building a genuine, practised toolkit for intense emotions during recovery and long after.
Is DBT the same as CBT?
No, though closely related. DBT adds structured skills in mindfulness, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness for people who experience emotions very intensely.
Does DBT have to be done in a group?
No. At Holina Executive, DBT is provided entirely one-to-one to protect privacy and tailor pace to each client.
Learn more about how DBT fits into our individual psychotherapy work.
Last updated: July 2026. This article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.