Feel like your emotions run the show sometimes? At Willow Behavioral Health in Madison, Wisconsin, our DBT therapy helps you take back control, offering real strategies to manage distress and build a calmer, more stable life.
What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based treatment for people dealing with intense emotions, addiction, or mental health challenges. It teaches practical tools for handling distress and improving how you relate to others. DBT is especially effective for people who feel overwhelmed, impulsive, or stuck in patterns that don’t serve them.
DBT Therapy for Addiction Recovery
In addiction recovery, dialectical behavior therapy helps you sit with tough urges without acting on them. You’ll learn to manage your emotional triggers, deal with cravings, and handle stress in healthier ways. The goal is to cultivate long-term resilience, so you’re not just staying sober, but staying steady.
DBT for Mental Health Disorders
DBT helps a myriad of mental health conditions. It supports people living with depression, PTSD, anxiety, and especially borderline personality disorder. With borderline personality DBT therapy, you’ll learn how to manage emotions, improve communication, and strengthen relationships.
DBT Therapy Techniques at Willow Behavioral Health
At Willow, DBT isn’t one-size-fits-all. We adapt the core skills to match your needs and build them into your treatment plan across every level of care.
What makes our DBT therapy different:
- Licensed clinicians trained in DBT
- Safe, judgment-free space for healing
- Individual sessions with experienced therapists
- Peer support in group therapy settings
- Built-in coping tools and real-life practice
- Custom plans for mental health and substance use
- Evening and virtual DBT sessions available
- Family involvement and communication support
- DBT integrated into PHP, IOP, and outpatient care
Dialectical Behavior Therapy vs. CBT
Balancing acceptance and change
Changing negative thought patterns
Borderline personality disorder, PTSD, intense emotions
Anxiety, depression, addiction
Mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, relationship skills
Thought tracking, behavior change, cognitive restructuring
Advanced emotion management
Basic emotion recognition
DBT Therapy Skills and Examples
Dialectical behavior therapy at Willow is available in every level of care. Whether you’re in a full-day program or attending a few sessions a week, you’ll build skills in four key areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Here’s how DBT fits into your recovery at each level.
- Attend daily group and individual therapy sessions
- Practice mindfulness and emotion regulation in real-time
- Build coping skills to manage distress and prevent relapse
- Learn to handle triggers while staying active at work or home
- Participate in regular DBT group and individual therapy
- Strengthen relationships and communication skills
- Access flexible sessions that fit into your weekly schedule
- Continue skill-building with licensed DBT-trained therapists
- Use therapy to maintain growth and prevent setbacks
DBT Group Therapy
Group sessions bring people together to learn DBT skills in a supportive setting. You’ll practice handling difficult emotions, navigating relationships, and staying grounded, alongside others who understand what you’re going through.
Get Specialized DBT Therapy at Willow BH
You deserve care that helps you feel steady, safe, and supported. At Willow Behavioral Health in Wisconsin, our DBT programs are guided by clinicians who truly get it, many of whom have walked their own healing paths. Whether you’re dealing with addiction, trauma, or intense emotions, we’ll help you build real-life skills that last.
FAQs About DBT
What does DBT stand for?
How does dialectical behavior therapy work?
What are the six main points of dialectical behavior therapy?
- Validation
- Mindfulness
- Behavior change
- Distress tolerance
- Emotion regulation
- Interpersonal effectiveness
How long is DBT therapy?
What is dialectical behavior therapy used for?
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