Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a type of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) created by psychologist Dr Marsha Linehan. Combining CBT techniques with mindfulness practices, DBT aims to help individuals create a life worth living by managing emotions, behaviours, and relationships effectively.
DBT involves individual sessions with a DBT therapist where you address your specific needs and develop personal coping strategies. This personalised approach helps you apply DBT skills to your unique circumstances.
At Cova Psychology in Melbourne, our experienced psychologists and DBT therapists provide DBT therapy both in person and online, making it easier for people to access support. Our psychologists in Melbourne are passionate about using DBT to help clients manage emotions, build resilience, and strengthen relationships.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is based on four core principles: mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. These principles work together to create a treatment plan tailored to your unique needs.
Mindfulness forms the foundation of DBT, helping you stay present and focused on the moment. By developing this awareness, you gain a clearer understanding of your thoughts and feelings, which is crucial for emotional regulation. Emotional regulation teaches you how to identify and manage intense emotions effectively.
Distress tolerance equips you with practical skills, such as self-soothing and crisis survival, to handle life’s challenges without resorting to harmful behaviours. Finally, interpersonal effectiveness focuses on improving communication, setting boundaries, and building meaningful relationships. By mastering these skills, you can enhance your relationships, boost self-respect, and live a more balanced and fulfilling life.
DBT has four main components, each designed to help you develop specific skills:
Mindfulness is a key part of DBT and involves paying attention to the present moment without judgment. A DBT therapist can help you practice mindfulness to stay present, remain calm, avoid reacting impulsively or becoming overwhelmed.
Many people who seek DBT struggle with intense and changing emotions. Emotional regulation skills will help you identify and label your emotions, understand the function of emotions and learn healthy ways to manage and change emotional states.
This component teaches you how to develop coping strategies to tolerate distressing situations without acting impulsively or self destructively. It involves learning skills like self soothing, distraction and crisis survival skills. These skills may be particularly beneficial managing painful emotions, triggers, and other responses to complex trauma. A DBT therapist can help you master these techniques.
Building and maintaining healthy relationships is part of overall well being. Interpersonal effectiveness skills taught in DBT will help you improve communication, assertiveness and conflict resolution skills and set boundaries and self respect.
DBT therapy in Melbourne may also include group skills training, where you practise these techniques alongside others facing similar challenges. In private sessions, our Melbourne psychologists work with you to apply these skills to your personal circumstances.
Mindfulness plays a central role in DBT therapy, encouraging self-awareness and a non-judgemental approach to thoughts and emotions. DBT therapists use mindfulness to help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression while improving emotional regulation and resilience.
By focusing on the present moment, mindfulness supports mental well-being and equips you to face challenges with clarity and balance.
DBT therapy is particularly effective for individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder but also benefits those dealing with:
This approach is especially helpful for managing self-harm and suicidal behaviours. By combining acceptance and change strategies, DBT therapists empower individuals to improve emotional well-being, cope with distress, and build more fulfilling relationships.
In DBT therapy, your Melbourne psychologist provides a supportive and non-judgemental environment where you can learn and practise new skills. Working collaboratively, they help you set goals and create a treatment plan tailored to your needs.
DBT therapists may also offer phone coaching to support you in applying these skills in real-life situations. Their goal is to empower you to take control of your mental health, make positive changes, and build the confidence to navigate challenges effectively.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a well-researched, evidence-based approach offered by psychologists in Melbourne, including at Cova Psychology. Originally developed by Dr Marsha Linehan in the late 1980s, DBT was designed to treat individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Today, it is widely used for various mental health challenges, including emotional dysregulation, self-harm, suicidal behaviours, and conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and eating disorders.
DBT is considered an effective treatment for BPD. Research shows significant reductions in self-harm, suicidal behaviours, and emotional dysregulation for individuals engaging in DBT compared to other forms of therapy.
Studies show that DBT therapy helps people improve their ability to manage intense emotional states. This is particularly valuable for those experiencing depression and anxiety.
DBT’s structured approach significantly reduces suicidal ideation and self-harming behaviours. This meta-analysis highlights a range of studies which found fewer suicide attempts and hospitalisations among those receiving DBT compared to alternative treatments.
Emerging evidence supports DBT as an effective therapy for individuals with binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa. Its skills, such as distress tolerance and emotional regulation, help manage triggers and reduce harmful behaviours.
DBT is increasingly used to treat trauma-related disorders in Melbourne, including PTSD. Research suggests DBT therapy reduces PTSD symptoms, especially when integrated with trauma-focused treatments.
Studies tracking individuals who completed DBT therapy programmes have found sustained improvements in mental health, emotional stability, and relationship functioning.
At Cova Psychology in Melbourne, our psychologists provide DBT therapy personalised to your needs. We are passionate about using this evidence-based approach to help clients build resilience and achieve lasting emotional well-being.
Call us today to discuss your needs and connect with a psychologist from our Melbourne team.
Don't let your struggles hold you back. Call us.
Let’s discuss your needs and match you with the right Melbourne psychologist.
Let’s discuss your needs and match you with the right Melbourne psychologist
Acknowledgement of Country
Cova Psychology acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land where our Melbourne CBD practice is located—the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong/Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation. We pay respect to their Elders, past and present, as well as the Elders of other Aboriginal communities in Melbourne and beyond.
We Welcome all People
We Work With
We would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which the practice is located. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and the Aboriginal Elders of other communities who may be here today.
