What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a structured, evidence-based treatment designed to help individuals who struggle with intense emotions, impulsivity, relationship instability, and chronic patterns of self-sabotage. At The Kimberly Center, DBT is offered within a depth-oriented, personality-informed framework, integrating skills-based treatment with careful attention to attachment, identity, and relational patterns.
Our DBT program is ideal for individuals who are motivated for change, seeking practical tools for emotional regulation, and ready to engage in consistent, structured treatment
Who Our DBT Program Is For
Our DBT services are particularly well-suited for individuals who experience:
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Emotional intensity or rapid mood shifts
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Chronic anxiety, depression, or emotional overwhelm
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Impulsivity, self-sabotaging behaviors, or difficulty tolerating distress
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Relationship instability, boundary difficulties, or fear of abandonment
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Traits associated with borderline, avoidant, narcissistic, or other personality patterns
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A history of trauma or invalidating relational environments
DBT at The Kimberly Center is often recommended as a stand-alone treatment or as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that may include individual psychotherapy or our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP).
Our DBT Approach at The Kimberly Center
Unlike many DBT programs that operate as skills-only groups, our approach is intentionally integrated:
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Skills-based: Clients learn core DBT skills to manage emotions, tolerate distress, improve relationships, and build mindfulness.
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Relationally informed: We attend to how skills breakdown in real relationships and high-stakes emotional moments.
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Personality-focused: Treatment is tailored for individuals with complex personality structures, not just symptom reduction.
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Clinically sophisticated: DBT is offered within a broader psychodynamic and attachment-informed treatment culture.
This approach allows clients to gain practical tools without losing depth, meaning, or psychological continuity.
DBT Skills Groups
Our DBT Skills Groups are led by a dedicated DBT specialist and follow a structured, curriculum-based model.
Core modules include:
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Mindfulness
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Distress Tolerance
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Emotion Regulation
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Interpersonal Effectiveness
Groups are small, clinically facilitated, and designed to promote both skill acquisition and real-world application.
DBT Within Our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
For clients requiring a higher level of care, DBT skills are a central component of our Intensive Outpatient Program. Within the IOP, DBT is combined with:
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Individual psychotherapy
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Group-based treatment
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Psychiatric collaboration when indicated
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Comprehensive treatment planning and coordination
This model allows for containment, structure, and continuity, particularly for clients navigating crises, transitions, or entrenched patterns.
Getting Started
All DBT services at The Kimberly Center begin with a comprehensive intake and treatment planning consultation, ensuring appropriate placement and alignment with clinical goals.