DBT in Melbourne

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What Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) services do we offer?

We offer individual therapy that draws from a DBT framework, not the full DBT program.

Our service will be suitable for you if:

  • You have already completed a 12-month DBT program and wish to maintain your skills.
  • You are presenting with mild/moderate symptoms and do not require intensive mental health supports.

If you are interested in DBT, please contact us to discuss whether your support needs will be suitable for individual sessions or whether you would be better suited to enrolling into one of the full DBT skills programs available at The Melbourne DBT Centre, The Epworth Clinic, The Melbourne Clinic, Spectrum, headspace Knox (if you are 18-25) or Delmont Hospital.

What is involved in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy?

DBT teaches you skills in Mindfulness, Emotion Regulation, Distress Tolerance and Interpersonal Effectiveness. The therapy is delivered through a combination of psychoeducation, talk therapy, guided exercises, activities, and homework tasks.

How can DBT help?

Although DBT was initially developed to treat Borderline Personality Disorder and life-threatening behaviours, it is also helpful for treating a variety of other mental health issues or life problems. It can help with improving mood regulation (i.e. anxiety/depression), improving intimate, social and work relationships, equipping you with the skills to cope when in distress or during crisis situations, reducing unhelpful behaviours (i.e. emotional eating, substance use, gambling) and bringing a greater sense of acceptance to yourself, generally.

What training do we have in DBT?

Kerry completed her DBT skills training with the founder of DBT, Dr. Marsha Linehan. Kerry also received additional training in DBT during her experience working as a Mental Heath Clinician in the DBT treatment team at headspace during 2014-15. Kerry has also completed Schema Therapy training, which is a complementary therapy to DBT and can be offered together concurrently.

What is the philosophy behind DBT, in a nutshell?

DBT is all about building a life worth living and reducing suffering. It aims to find the synthesis of opposites. It embraces the idea that real change is possible, but that to create real change we first need to find the synthesis between acceptance and change.

DBT affirms that everything is always changing, that truth evolves over time, and that everything is connected, ultimately. To change ourselves, we first have to accept ourselves. DBT also affirms that change is transactional, and that everything is being impacted by everything it’s connected to. We often assume that all behaviour is chosen and deliberate and often it is simply automatic.

However, independent of what caused the problem, we do have to solve it. DBT helps you to give up judgment and the idea of “good and bad” and instead evaluate the consequences of behaviour by focussing on what is effective and what works.