Clients learn to:
- Stay grounded in the present
- Observe thoughts without judgment
- Increase self-awareness
- Improve focus and emotional balance
Build the Skills to Navigate Life’s Most Difficult Emotions
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in Chicago and Western Suburbs
Life can feel overwhelming when emotions seem difficult to manage. You may find yourself reacting impulsively, feeling emotionally exhausted, struggling in relationships, or becoming stuck in patterns that leave you feeling frustrated or disconnected. Even when you want to respond differently, it can feel as though your emotions take over before you have time to think.
At Grace Integrated, we provide Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for adolescents, adults, couples, and families throughout Chicago and the western suburbs. DBT is an evidence-based therapy that helps individuals develop practical skills for managing intense emotions, improving relationships, tolerating distress, and responding to life’s challenges with greater confidence and balance.
Overview
What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a structured, evidence-based psychotherapy developed by psychologist Dr. Marsha Linehan. DBT combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness and acceptance strategies to help individuals better understand and manage their emotions.
Originally developed to treat chronic emotion dysregulation, DBT has become one of the most effective therapeutic approaches for a wide range of mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma, self-harm, borderline personality disorder, and difficulties with emotional regulation.
Whether you’re struggling with overwhelming emotions, relationship conflict, impulsive behaviors, or chronic stress, DBT can help you build the skills needed to create a life that feels more stable, meaningful, and fulfilling.
DBT helps individuals:
- Understand emotional responses
- Develop healthier coping skills
- Reduce impulsive behaviors
- Increase emotional resilience
- Build greater self-awareness
- Improve relationships
- Create a life aligned with their personal values
Rather than simply reducing symptoms, DBT teaches lifelong skills that support healthier emotional functioning in everyday life.
The word dialectical refers to balancing two ideas that can both be true at the same time. In therapy, this often means learning to accept yourself as you are while also working toward meaningful change.
Many people experience emotional reactions that feel intense or difficult to control. These emotions are not signs of weakness—they often reflect a nervous system that has been shaped by life experiences, stress, or trauma.
Is this the right time?
Signs You May Benefit From DBT
DBT can help anyone who feels overwhelmed by emotions or struggles to respond effectively during stressful situations.
You may benefit from DBT if you:
Experience intense emotions that feel difficult to control
Feel overwhelmed by stress
Struggle with anxiety or panic
Experience frequent mood swings
Have difficulty managing anger
Feel emotionally reactive in relationships
Fear rejection or abandonment
Engage in impulsive behaviors
Have difficulty setting healthy boundaries
Experience chronic conflict with others
Struggle with self-harm urges or unhealthy coping strategies
Feel emotionally exhausted
Want healthier ways to manage distress
Feel like your emotions often control your decisions
DBT is particularly helpful for individuals who often feel caught between emotional overwhelm and wanting to respond differently.
Treatment Options
What DBT Can Help Treat
DBT has been extensively researched and is effective for many mental health concerns involving emotional regulation and interpersonal functioning.
Our therapists commonly use DBT to help individuals experiencing:
01
Emotional Dysregulation
Develop healthier ways to understand, tolerate, and regulate intense emotions without becoming overwhelmed.
02
Anxiety Disorders
Learn mindfulness and distress tolerance skills that reduce anxiety, panic, and emotional avoidance while improving daily functioning.
03
Depression
Build emotional awareness, increase behavioral activation, and develop healthier coping strategies for managing sadness and hopelessness.
04
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
DBT is considered the gold-standard treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder and helps improve emotional regulation, relationships, impulsivity, and overall quality of life.
05
Self-Harm and Suicidal Behaviors
Develop safer coping strategies while reducing self-destructive behaviors and increasing emotional stability.
06
Trauma and PTSD
Strengthen emotional regulation and distress tolerance skills while supporting recovery from traumatic experiences, often alongside trauma-focused therapies.
07
Relationship Difficulties
Improve communication, establish healthy boundaries, resolve conflict more effectively, and strengthen interpersonal relationships.
08
Stress, Burnout, and Life Transitions
Build resilience while learning practical strategies for navigating overwhelming situations with greater flexibility and confidence.
DBT teaches skills that benefit nearly every area of life, helping clients respond more intentionally rather than reacting automatically.
How We Help
The Four Core DBT Skill Areas
DBT focuses on teaching practical skills that clients can apply immediately in everyday situations.
Mindfulness
Learn to stay present without becoming overwhelmed by difficult thoughts or emotions. Mindfulness helps increase awareness while reducing automatic emotional reactions.
Distress Tolerance
Develop healthy strategies for managing painful emotions and stressful situations without making them worse through impulsive or harmful behaviors.
Skills include:
- Grounding techniques
- Self-soothing strategies
- Crisis survival skills
- Radical acceptance
- Managing emotional overwhelm
Emotion Regulation
Better understand emotions, identify emotional triggers, and develop practical tools for responding more effectively.
Clients learn to:
- Recognize emotional patterns
- Reduce emotional vulnerability
- Increase positive experiences
- Respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Strengthen communication skills while learning how to balance your own needs with healthy relationships.
Clients develop skills to:
- Set healthy boundaries
- Communicate assertively
- Resolve conflict effectively
- Strengthen relationships
- Increase self-respect
Together, these four skill areas create a comprehensive foundation for emotional wellness and healthier relationships.
Trusted Excellence
Why Choose Grace Integrated?
Learning new emotional skills requires a supportive environment where you feel understood, respected, and encouraged throughout the process.
Clients choose Grace Integrated because we provide
Evidence-based DBT-informed therapy
Personalized treatment plans
Therapy for adolescents, adults, couples, and families
Integration with CBT, EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Somatic Therapy, mindfulness, and other evidence-based approaches
Trauma-informed care
Inclusive and affirming services
In-person and telehealth appointments
A compassionate, collaborative therapeutic relationship
We believe meaningful change happens when clients are supported with both acceptance and practical tools for growth.
Your Journey
What to Expect During DBT
Initial Consultation
Your therapist will take time to understand your concerns, emotional experiences, strengths, relationships, and goals while determining how DBT skills can best support your needs.
Assessment and Goal Setting
Together, you’ll create a personalized treatment plan focused on developing practical skills that address your unique challenges and priorities.
Skill Development
Throughout therapy, you’ll practice DBT skills during sessions and apply them in everyday situations, building confidence through real-life experience.
Growth and Lasting Change
As therapy progresses, many clients experience:
- Greater emotional stability
- Reduced anxiety
- Improved relationships
- Increased confidence
- Better communication
- Healthier coping strategies
- Greater resilience
- Improved self-awareness
- Increased ability to handle life’s challenges
DBT is designed to help you build a life that feels balanced, meaningful, and aligned with your values—not just reduce symptoms.
Serving Chicago and the Western Suburbs
Grace Integrated proudly provides Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) throughout Chicago, including our Loop and West Town offices, as well as surrounding western suburban communities including Oak Brook, Elmhurst, Lombard, Riverside, Westmont, and nearby areas.
We also offer secure telehealth therapy throughout Illinois, making evidence-based DBT accessible wherever you are.
questions & answered
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DBT only for Borderline Personality Disorder?
No. Although DBT was originally developed for Borderline Personality Disorder, it is now widely used to treat anxiety, depression, trauma, emotional dysregulation, self-harm, eating disorders, substance use disorders, and relationship difficulties.
What's the difference between DBT and CBT?
CBT focuses primarily on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. DBT builds on CBT by adding mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness skills, with a greater emphasis on balancing acceptance and change.
Will I learn practical coping skills?
Yes. One of the strengths of DBT is its focus on teaching concrete, evidence-based skills that you can use immediately in your daily life.
Is DBT appropriate for teenagers?
Yes. DBT has been successfully adapted for adolescents and is commonly used to help teens manage emotions, improve relationships, reduce impulsive behaviors, and develop healthy coping strategies.
Can DBT be combined with other therapies?
Absolutely. At Grace Integrated, DBT is often integrated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Somatic Therapy, trauma-informed care, and mindfulness-based approaches depending on your individual needs.
CONTACTS
Develop the Skills to Create Lasting Change
You don’t have to continue feeling controlled by overwhelming emotions or unhealthy patterns. With the right support and practical skills, it’s possible to navigate life’s challenges with greater confidence, resilience, and self-compassion.
At Grace Integrated, our therapists provide personalized, DBT-informed care to help you regulate emotions, strengthen relationships, and build a life that reflects your goals and values.