Who can benefit from DBT?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based therapy that helps people better understand and manage intense emotions while developing healthier ways of responding to life's challenges.
Originally developed for individuals experiencing significant emotional dysregulation, DBT is now widely used to support people facing a range of emotional and mental health concerns. It combines practical skill-building with a compassionate, accepting approach, helping you recognize that it's possible to accept yourself as you are while working toward meaningful change.
At Havencrest Wellness & Counseling, we use DBT to help you build greater emotional awareness, strengthen relationships, develop healthier coping strategies, and respond to difficult situations with greater confidence and resilience.
Schedule your first DBT appointment today.
DBT can support adults, teens, and young adults experiencing a range of emotional and mental health challenges. Whether your emotions often feel overwhelming, relationships feel difficult to navigate, or you're looking for healthier ways to cope with stress, DBT provides practical skills that can support lasting change.
You may benefit from DBT if you're experiencing:
- Intense emotions
- — Feeling overwhelmed by emotions that seem difficult to understand or manage.
- Emotional regulation challenges
- — Difficulty calming yourself after becoming upset, or responding to emotions in ways that feel helpful.
- Mood changes
- — Emotional highs and lows that affect your wellbeing, relationships, or daily life.
- Anxiety
- — Excessive worry, feeling on edge, or becoming overwhelmed by everyday situations.
- Depression
- — Persistent sadness, low mood, or feeling emotionally exhausted.
- Trauma and PTSD
- — When past experiences continue to affect your emotions, relationships, sense of safety, or daily life.
- Relationship difficulties
- — Frequent conflict, difficulty setting healthy boundaries, or challenges maintaining healthy relationships.
- Impulsive or self-destructive behaviors
- — Acting in ways that feel difficult to control during times of emotional distress, that don't reflect your long-term goals, or that may place your wellbeing at risk.
- Low self-esteem
- — Feeling self-critical, struggling with self-worth, or finding it difficult to recognize your strengths.
- Difficulty coping with distress
- — Feeling overwhelmed during difficult situations, struggling to manage uncertainty, or finding it difficult to cope during times of crisis.
Your care is tailored to your unique experiences, needs, and goals. You may also find support through:
How we approach DBT
Our goal is to help you better understand your emotions, strengthen your relationships, and develop practical skills that help you respond to life's challenges with greater confidence and balance.
Because every person's experiences and goals are different, therapy is tailored to your individual needs. Depending on your goals, DBT may include:
- Developing mindfulness skills
- — To become more aware of your thoughts, emotions, and experiences without judgment.
- Building distress tolerance strategies
- — To navigate difficult situations without making them harder.
- Strengthening emotional regulation skills
- — To better understand, manage, and respond to intense emotions.
- Improving interpersonal effectiveness
- — To communicate more confidently, establish healthy boundaries, and strengthen relationships.
Our focus isn't simply to help you cope with difficult emotions — it's to help you build practical skills that support healthier relationships, greater resilience, and lasting emotional wellbeing. DBT may also complement other areas of care:
What to expect during DBT
During your first session, your therapist will:
- Take time to understand your experiences, current challenges, strengths, and goals
- Work collaboratively with you to identify the areas you'd like to improve and develop personalized goals
- Begin introducing practical DBT skills that support emotional regulation, healthier relationships, and coping with life's challenges
- Encourage you to practice new skills between sessions, helping you apply what you've learned in everyday life
- Regularly review your progress together, adapting your therapeutic approach as your needs and goals evolve
- Build your confidence in managing difficult emotions and navigating life's challenges with greater resilience
As therapy progresses, you'll continue developing practical skills that support emotional wellbeing, strengthen relationships, and create lasting, meaningful change.
If meeting in person isn't convenient, we also offer secure telehealth appointments throughout Washington.
Finding the right fit
Choosing a therapist is an important decision, and finding the right fit can make all the difference. At Havencrest Wellness & Counseling, we're committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based care that's tailored to your unique needs and goals.
Learn more about Havencrest's approach to care on our About Us page, or explore our team to find the therapist who best fits your needs.
Insurance & payment
Insurance coverage for DBT varies by provider and plan. Our team is happy to help you understand your benefits, verify your coverage, and discuss your options before your first appointment.
Frequently asked questions
How is DBT different from CBT?
While both CBT and DBT are evidence-based therapies, CBT focuses primarily on understanding and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. DBT builds on this foundation by teaching practical skills that help people regulate emotions, tolerate distress, strengthen relationships, and become more present in everyday life.
Is DBT the right therapy for me?
There isn't one therapy approach that's right for everyone. DBT is an evidence-based therapy that can be highly effective for people who experience intense emotions or difficulty regulating them. Your therapist will work collaboratively with you to determine whether DBT, or a combination of therapeutic approaches, is the best fit for your needs and goals.
Is DBT only for borderline personality disorder?
No. Although DBT was originally developed for borderline personality disorder, it is now widely used to treat anxiety, depression, PTSD, emotional dysregulation, eating disorders, and other mental health concerns.
Have a question that isn't answered here? Contact us, or read our full FAQs.
Ready to take the next step?
Whether you're navigating intense emotions, anxiety, relationship challenges, or emotional overwhelm, Havencrest Wellness & Counseling provides compassionate, evidence-based DBT tailored to your unique needs.