Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

What Is Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based form of cognitive behavioral therapy that helps you better understand and manage intense emotions.

Originally developed to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD), DBT is now widely used for a range of mental health concerns. It combines practical skills with mindfulness and acceptance-based strategies to help you build a more balanced and stable life.

At Careful Counseling, we offer in-person and virtual Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in Brookline, MA, with both individual therapy and skills-based support tailored to your needs.

What Can DBT Therapy Help With?

DBT is commonly used to support individuals experiencing:

Many people seek DBT therapy when they feel overwhelmed by emotions or struggle to manage reactions in difficult situations.

Who Can Benefit from DBT?

DBT may be a good fit if you:

  • Feel emotionally overwhelmed or reactive

  • Have difficulty managing stress or distress

  • Struggle in relationships or communication

  • Experience mood swings or intense emotional responses

  • Want practical tools to feel more in control

DBT helps you build skills to respond to situations more effectively, rather than feeling stuck in automatic patterns.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) techniques and core processes, including Mindfulness, Emotional Regulation, Distress Tolerance, and 'Interpersonal Effectiveness.'
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What to Expect in DBT Therapy

Learn mindfulness skills to stay present and grounded

Understand and manage emotional patterns

Build skills to handle difficult situations

Develop interpersonal skills for healthier relationships

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Serving Brookline and the Greater Boston Area

Our Brookline therapy office supports individuals throughout:

  • Brookline

  • Boston (including Back Bay and the South End)

  • Cambridge

  • Newton

  • Allston

  • Brighton

  • Jamaica Plain

  • Surrounding Massachusetts communities

Both in-person sessions and secure online therapy options are available.

Comfortable counseling space interior office for in-person therapy in Brookline, MA.
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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based therapy that helps individuals develop skills for managing intense emotions, improving relationships, tolerating distress, and staying present in the moment.

  • DBT is commonly used to help individuals struggling with emotional dysregulation, anxiety, depression, self-destructive behaviors, stress, trauma, and interpersonal difficulties.

  • DBT combines acceptance strategies with practical behavior-change skills. Therapy often focuses on mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.

  • DBT skills are tools that help individuals cope with difficult emotions, navigate relationships, manage stress, and respond more effectively during overwhelming situations.

  • An example of DBT may include learning grounding techniques during moments of distress, practicing emotional regulation skills, or improving communication patterns in relationships.

  • Yes. Careful Counseling offers DBT therapy in Brookline, MA, with telehealth options available throughout Massachusetts.