DBT Group Therapy
DBT Group Therapy is a skills-based program that helps you manage intense emotions, strengthen relationships, and create a more balanced, fulfilling life—while practicing alongside a supportive group.
About Dr Estefania
DBT Group therapy online: Designed to provide the best mental health care services
Dr. Estefania Luna is a licensed clinical psychologist, PSYPACT-authorized to provide online care across multiple states, and a specialist in DBT Group Therapy. Her groups teach evidence-based DBT skills—mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness—in a supportive, structured setting where you learn, practice, and get feedback alongside peers.
With years of clinical experience, Dr. Luna facilitates groups that balance warmth and clear structure, helping members break unhelpful cycles, manage stress more effectively, and strengthen relationships. The goal: build real-world skills, increase resilience, and create lasting, meaningful change—together.
- Certifications:
DBT Group Therapy: What it is, how it works, and why it helps people create balance and emotional resilience
DBT Group Therapy is one of the most recognized, evidence-based approaches for emotional dysregulation and relationship difficulties. The name sounds clinical, but the experience is deeply human: you learn and practice skills with peers, find balance, accept yourself, and build a life worth living—together.
What is DBT Group Therapy?
DBT Group Therapy is a structured, skills-based program that helps people manage intense emotions, reduce impulsive behaviors, and improve relationships—by practicing proven tools together in a supportive group.
Created by psychologist Marsha Linehan in the late 1980s, DBT blends cognitive-behavioral strategies with mindfulness and acceptance. It’s been extensively researched and is recognized by leading organizations (e.g., APA, NIMH) as effective for challenges like borderline personality disorder, depression, anxiety, trauma-related symptoms, and chronic stress. In group, you’ll learn the four DBT skill modules—Mindfulness, Emotion Regulation, Distress Tolerance, and Interpersonal Effectiveness—and apply them to real life each week.
How does DBT Group work?
DBT Group Therapy is built on the same core idea: two truths can coexist—you can accept yourself as you are and still work to change what’s hurting you. In group, you learn and practice the four DBT skill sets—mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness—so you can ride out intense emotions without losing control or disconnecting from others.
In sessions, you’ll name what you feel, rehearse real-life scenarios, and get coaching and feedback from the therapist and peers. Through structured exercises, role-plays, and weekly practice, you’ll replace reactive patterns with conscious, balanced responses that actually work outside the room.
The result? More stability, resilience, and self-compassion—with the added momentum of a supportive group. Instead of being ruled by emotions, you’ll understand them and respond in ways that bring clarity, connection, and calm.
What does DBT Group treat?
Although DBT groups were first developed for borderline personality disorder, their effectiveness now extends far beyond that. They are widely used to address:
- Emotional dysregulation and mood swings
- Anxiety and depression
- Impulsivity and self-destructive behaviors
- Eating disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Substance use and addiction recovery
- Relationship difficulties
- Chronic stress and burnout
DBT groups can be tailored for adults, teens, and even younger clients, and they work effectively both in person and via secure online therapy.
1
Building safety and stability
In the first stage, the focus is on reducing life-threatening behaviors, self-harm, or extreme emotional distress. The therapist works with you to create a sense of safety and stability while addressing crises that interfere with daily functioning. You’ll begin learning basic mindfulness and distress tolerance skills to stay grounded in the present.
2
Exploring emotions and processing the past
Once stability is achieved, therapy moves toward exploring the emotional pain and experiences that may have led to current struggles. The goal isn’t to relive the past, but to understand it and develop new ways of responding. You’ll practice emotion regulation skills that help you manage anger, sadness, and fear more effectively.
3
Building a life worth living
At this stage, DBT focuses on rebuilding relationships, setting personal goals, and developing a sense of purpose. You’ll learn interpersonal effectiveness skills—how to communicate needs clearly, set boundaries, and maintain self-respect while connecting with others.
4
Increasing joy and self-fulfillment
The final stage centers on acceptance and growth. Together with your therapist, you’ll work to strengthen resilience, deepen mindfulness practice, and find meaning beyond symptom management. The aim is not just to survive, but to thrive—living with authenticity, balance, and emotional freedom.
The 4 stages of DBT Group Therapy
DBT Group Therapy follows a structured path to help you build emotional stability, improve relationships, and create lasting change. It typically unfolds across four stages, combining weekly group skills training, optional individual support, and between-session practice:
What does the research say?
DBT has been extensively researched for over three decades, with strong evidence supporting its effectiveness in treating emotional dysregulation and self-destructive behaviors. Key findings include:
Significant reductions in self-harm, suicidal behaviors, and hospitalizations among people with borderline personality disorder.
Recognized by the American Psychological Association and the National Institute of Mental Health as an evidence-based treatment for multiple conditions.
Proven to improve emotional regulation, relationship satisfaction, and overall quality of life across diverse populations.
While the exact mechanisms behind DBT’s success continue to be studied, the results are clear—it helps people gain control over their emotions, make healthier choices, and build a life that feels worth living.
Benefits of DBT Group Therapy
✔️ Scientifically proven to improve emotional regulation
✔️ Reduces self-destructive and impulsive behaviors
✔️ Teaches practical skills to manage stress and relationships
✔️ Helps balance acceptance and change for lasting growth
✔️ Effective for a wide range of emotional and behavioral difficulties
✔️ Builds confidence, mindfulness, and emotional resilience
Is DBT right for you?
If you often feel ruled by your emotions—swinging between overwhelm, emptiness, or frustration—DBT can help you find balance.
It doesn’t matter how long you’ve felt this way. What matters is that there’s now a structured, evidence-based path to emotional stability, connection, and peace.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About DBT Group Therapy
DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) is a transformative, evidence-based approach that has helped millions of people manage intense emotions, improve relationships, and build a more balanced, fulfilling life. Whether you’re considering DBT or simply curious about what it involves, you’re in the right place.
Below, you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions about DBT. From understanding how the therapy works to exploring its benefits, these FAQs are designed to help you learn how DBT can support your journey toward emotional stability and personal growth.
1. What is DBT Group therapy?
DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) is a therapy that helps people manage intense emotions, reduce impulsive behaviors, and improve relationships through a balance of acceptance, mindfulness, and practical change-oriented skills.
2. What conditions is DBT Group used for?
DBT is primarily used to treat borderline personality disorder, but it has also proven effective for anxiety, depression, eating disorders, substance use, post-traumatic stress, and other conditions involving emotional dysregulation.
3. How many sessions are needed?
Some people begin noticing changes within a few weeks, while others need more time—especially when addressing deeply rooted emotional or behavioral patterns.
DBT sessions typically last 60 to 90 minutes and follow a structured approach that combines individual therapy, group skills training, and between-session coaching. Regular check-ins ensure that progress is tracked and that the therapy stays aligned with your personal goals and real-life challenges.
4. How does DBT Group work?
During DBT, you learn and practice specific skills—like mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness—that help you respond to difficult situations without losing control. Over time, these techniques reduce emotional intensity, impulsive reactions, and self-defeating patterns, allowing you to create more balanced and intentional responses.
5. Do I need to talk in detail about my trauma?
No. Unlike traditional talk therapy, DBT doesn’t require you to analyze every past event in detail. Instead, it focuses on learning concrete skills to manage emotions in the present, improve relationships, and create lasting behavioral change.
6. Is DBT Group effective?
Yes. Numerous clinical studies have shown that DBT is highly effective, particularly for people struggling with emotional instability, self-harm, and relationship difficulties. It’s recognized by the American Psychological Association and other leading mental health organizations as an evidence-based treatment.
7. Can I do DBT Group if I don't have a severe trauma?
Yes. While DBT was originally developed for borderline personality disorder, it’s also highly effective for managing anxiety, depression, trauma-related symptoms, eating disorders, and other challenges involving intense emotions or impulsive behaviors.
9. Is DBT Group suitable for children?
Yes. DBT can be adapted for all ages, including teenagers and young adults. It has proven effective in helping them manage intense emotions, improve communication, and develop healthy coping skills from an early stage.
10. Is DBT Group a new therapy?
Although DBT was developed in the late 1980s, it has been thoroughly researched and widely validated. Today, it is considered a gold-standard treatment for emotional dysregulation and related conditions, recommended by mental health professionals around the world.