Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT-Informed)

You can learn to respond—rather than react—even when life feels intense.

DBT-informed therapy helps you develop skills to navigate emotional intensity, improve relationships, and stay grounded when life feels overwhelming. Whether you shut down, lash out, or swing between the two, this approach offers tools that are practical, validating, and deeply change-oriented.

DBT stands for Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Originally developed for individuals experiencing intense emotional swings and self-harming behaviors, DBT has evolved into a powerful tool for anyone who struggles to manage emotions or navigate conflict effectively.

It’s called “dialectical” because it holds two ideas at once: you can accept yourself as you are, and you can still work toward change. This balance is at the heart of how DBT helps clients grow.

What Happens in a Session?

DBT combines structured skills with supportive, validating therapy. At EMCounseling, we use DBT-informed approaches, which means we tailor its core tools to each client’s needs, without requiring full DBT group programs.

Your therapist may guide you in learning and applying DBT’s four core skill sets:

• Mindfulness – staying present instead of spiraling

• Distress Tolerance – surviving crisis moments without making things worse

• Emotion Regulation – understanding and shifting intense emotions

• Interpersonal Effectiveness – setting boundaries, asking for what you need, and improving relationships

These tools are especially helpful for teens, young adults, and anyone who feels like their emotions are “too much.”

Who Is It For?
DBT-informed therapy is ideal for clients who:

• Feel emotionally overwhelmed or out of control

• Experience mood swings, impulsivity, or shutdown

• Struggle with relationships, boundaries, or trust

• Want tools they can actually practice and use in real life

• Need both validation and accountability

Many clients say DBT gives them language for what they’ve felt—but couldn’t explain—and permission to move forward without shame.

How We Use IFS-Informed Therapy at EMCounseling
Several of our therapists incorporate DBT-informed skills into therapy with teens, adults, and parents. Whether you’re a young person struggling with anxiety and anger or an adult looking for better tools in high-stress relationships, DBT offers structure, clarity, and hope.

Our team helps clients not just understand what’s happening, but do something different.