Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, or DBT, is an evidence-based approach that can help people manage intense emotions, respond differently to distress and navigate relationships more effectively. Originally developed by Dr Marsha Linehan, DBT is now used across a range of mental health presentations.
At Cova Psychology, our psychologists provide DBT therapy through individual psychology sessions at our Melbourne and North Melbourne locations, as well as via telehealth where appropriate. Sessions may involve learning and practising DBT skills while also exploring the experiences and patterns relevant to you.
Cova does not currently provide DBT skills groups, telephone coaching or a comprehensive DBT program. If you are specifically seeking comprehensive DBT, it is important to check which components a provider offers.
DBT developed from cognitive behavioural therapy and brings together behavioural strategies, mindfulness and acceptance-based approaches. It was originally developed to help people experiencing persistent emotion dysregulation, self-harm or suicidal behaviour. DBT principles and skills are now also used with some people experiencing other difficulties involving overwhelming emotions, impulsive behaviour or relationship distress.
The word “dialectical” reflects the idea that two apparently opposing things can be true at once. For example, you can accept where you are while also working towards changing patterns that are causing harm or distress. This balance between acceptance and change is central to DBT.
At Cova Psychology, DBT is adapted for individual psychological therapy. This may sometimes be described as a DBT-informed approach because it does not include every component of a comprehensive DBT program. Your psychologist may integrate DBT skills with other therapeutic approaches according to your needs and goals.
DBT therapy commonly develops skills across four areas. Each area is practical and can be applied to situations in everyday life.
Mindfulness involves paying attention to the present moment with curiosity rather than judgement. It can help you notice thoughts, feelings and urges without responding to them automatically.
Mindfulness often provides a foundation for the other DBT skill areas. Developing greater awareness may make it easier to pause and choose how to respond when emotions are particularly strong.
Emotion regulation skills can help you identify and understand emotions, recognise factors that make you more vulnerable to emotional distress and consider different ways of responding.
Strategies might involve attending to sleep, physical health and other factors that affect emotional vulnerability. They may also include practising actions intended to influence an emotional state. Your psychologist can help you consider which strategies are relevant to your circumstances and how to apply them outside appointments.
Some situations cannot be resolved immediately. Distress tolerance skills are intended to help people manage periods of acute distress without responding in ways that make the situation more difficult.
These skills may include distraction, self-soothing, grounding and radical acceptance. The aim is not to deny or eliminate distress, but to develop ways of getting through difficult moments more safely.
Some people also find our article on polyvagal exercises helpful when exploring ways to settle the nervous system between appointments.
Relationships can be both supportive and stressful. Interpersonal effectiveness skills focus on communicating clearly while considering your needs, the relationship and your sense of self-respect.
This can include learning how to ask for what you need, say no, set boundaries and manage conflict. Therapy may also explore patterns that repeatedly affect trust, connection or communication. Our article about improving communication with your partner discusses some additional ways people can approach difficult conversations within relationships.
At Cova Psychology, DBT therapy takes place in individual psychology sessions. Your psychologist will seek to understand what has brought you to therapy, the patterns contributing to your difficulties and whether particular DBT skills may be useful.
Appointments might involve identifying what happens when emotions intensify, learning a relevant skill and considering how to apply it to a recent or anticipated situation. You may agree to practise particular skills between appointments and review what happened at your next session.
Some people work across all four DBT skill areas, while others focus on the skills most relevant to their current needs. DBT may also be integrated with other psychological approaches where appropriate.
Individual DBT therapy differs from a DBT skills group, which teaches skills in a structured group format. It also differs from comprehensive DBT, which usually combines individual therapy, group skills training, telephone coaching and a consultation team for clinicians.
Cova currently provides DBT within individual psychology sessions. We do not provide a DBT skills group, telephone coaching or all components of a comprehensive DBT program.
DBT is widely associated with the treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder. Cova Psychology provides psychologist support for Borderline Personality Disorder in Melbourne, which may draw on DBT as well as other therapeutic approaches.
DBT therapy may be worth considering if you experience:
Some people with ADHD also seek help with emotional reactivity, impulsive responses or difficulty pausing during stressful situations. Where relevant, selected DBT skills may form part of broader ADHD support in Melbourne, although DBT is not a primary treatment for the core symptoms of ADHD.
You do not necessarily need a formal diagnosis to work on DBT skills. However, DBT is not automatically the most suitable approach for every person experiencing emotional distress or dysregulation. A psychologist can help you consider your needs, therapy goals and whether DBT or another form of support may be appropriate.
DBT has been studied particularly extensively in relation to Borderline Personality Disorder, recurrent self-harm and suicidal behaviour. Research suggests that DBT can help some people reduce harmful behaviours, strengthen emotion regulation and function more effectively in relationships and daily life.
DBT approaches have also been studied in relation to concerns such as depression, trauma-related symptoms, substance use and eating difficulties. Findings vary between different populations and treatment formats. Much of the strongest research relates to comprehensive DBT programs, so these findings should not automatically be applied to every form of individual DBT therapy.
DBT skills may sometimes form part of the stabilisation or coping work undertaken alongside PTSD treatment in Melbourne. This does not mean that DBT is itself a trauma-processing therapy or that it will be appropriate for every person with trauma-related symptoms.
Our psychologists use DBT within a broader psychological therapy framework. Depending on a person’s difficulties and goals, therapy may also draw on approaches such as ACT, Schema Therapy or EMDR.
Finding an appropriate psychologist involves more than choosing a therapy label. It can be helpful to ask about a psychologist’s experience with the concerns bringing you to therapy, how they use DBT and whether the way they work matches what you are seeking.
At Cova Psychology, psychologists who provide DBT therapy work collaboratively with clients to identify relevant patterns and practise skills that can be applied outside the therapy room. Appointments may be available at our Melbourne location, our North Melbourne location or via telehealth where appropriate.
Some of our psychologists have a particular interest in DBT and in supporting people experiencing emotional intensity, complex trauma, relationship difficulties or neurodivergence. You can explore our broader range of psychological services in Melbourne when considering what kind of support may suit you.
DBT can be adapted within individual psychological therapy according to the person and the purpose of therapy. Learning a skill does not mean it will immediately feel natural or work in every situation. Sessions provide an opportunity to practise, review what happened and refine how a skill is used.
If you are uncertain about where to begin, our guide to exploring therapy options in Melbourne may help you consider some of the differences between therapeutic approaches.
DBT skills may also be relevant when long-term relationship strain or repeating interpersonal difficulties are contributing to distress. Our page about support for relationship issues in Melbourne explains some of the broader ways therapy may approach these concerns.
Change often develops gradually. Therapy may involve understanding established patterns, learning unfamiliar responses and continuing to practise them even when progress is uneven.
