Orlando Outpatient Center teaches dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills in its intensive outpatient programs in Maitland, just north of Orlando. DBT helps you handle intense emotions, get through a crisis without making it worse, and keep relationships steady, whether you are in recovery from addiction, living with a mental health condition or both. Call (407) 968-7717 to learn more.
What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?
DBT is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy developed by psychologist Marsha Linehan. “Dialectical” means holding two ideas at once: accepting yourself as you are right now while working hard to change. DBT was first created for people with borderline personality disorder and is now used for many conditions that involve strong, hard-to-manage emotions.
The Four DBT Skill Areas
- Mindfulness: noticing thoughts and feelings in the present moment without judging them
- Distress tolerance: getting through a crisis or a craving without acting on it
- Emotion regulation: understanding emotions, lowering vulnerability to them and changing the ones you want to change
- Interpersonal effectiveness: asking for what you need, saying no and protecting relationships and self-respect
DBT Skills for Addiction Recovery
Many people use alcohol or drugs to escape painful emotions. DBT gives you other options. Distress tolerance skills help you ride out cravings, and emotion regulation skills lower the stress that fuels them. In our addiction IOP, DBT skills work alongside CBT and relapse prevention.
DBT Skills for Mental Health
In our mental health IOP, DBT skills are used for borderline personality disorder, depression, anxiety, trauma and mood swings related to bipolar disorder. The goal is fewer crises and more control over how you respond to what you feel.
Free, Confidential Helpline
Ready to take the next step toward recovery?
Our Recovery Advocates are available around the clock to answer your questions, verify your insurance, and help you find the right level of care — at no cost to you.
How DBT Works in Our IOP
You learn DBT skills in group sessions, where a clinician teaches a skill and the group practices it together, and then apply them between sessions using worksheets and daily practice. Your counselor helps you use the skills on your own situations in individual sessions every other week. Groups meet in Maitland during the day and on weekday evenings, and telehealth groups on Friday and Saturday are available for Florida residents.
Orlando Outpatient Center provides DBT skills training as part of IOP. If you need a comprehensive DBT program with 24/7 phone coaching, our team can talk with you about options.
Who DBT Skills Can Help
- People who feel emotions very intensely or have trouble calming down
- Anyone who uses substances to cope with emotional pain
- People with borderline personality disorder or frequent relationship conflict
- Those who act on urges they later regret
- Adults stepping down from a higher level of mental health care
If you are having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, call or text 988 or call 911 right away. IOP is not an emergency service.
DBT FAQs
What is DBT used for?
DBT was developed for borderline personality disorder and is now used for substance use, depression, anxiety, trauma and other conditions that involve intense emotions.
What are the four DBT skills?
Mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness.
Is DBT the same as CBT?
DBT is a form of CBT. It adds acceptance and mindfulness skills and a strong focus on managing emotions and relationships.
Do you offer DBT in Orlando?
Yes. Orlando Outpatient Center in Maitland teaches DBT skills in its addiction and mental health IOP programs.
Can I learn DBT skills by telehealth?
Florida residents can attend some IOP groups by telehealth, including Friday and Saturday sessions.
