DBT Therapy at Dwell
At Dwell Christian Therapy, we believe that healing is holistic—and that it often comes in the layers of psychology, community, spirituality, and neurobiology. If you’ve struggled with overwhelming emotions, loneliness, self-doubt, suicidal thoughts, or destructive coping, Dialectical-Behavioral Therapy (DBT) offers a way forward—one anchored in skill-building, compassionate presence, and the hope of transformation.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based, compassion-infused form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy originally developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan for individuals struggling with intense emotional fluctuations and self-harm ﹣ often diagnosed with borderline personality disorder ﹣ but now widely used for a range of mental health concerns including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and more.
What is DBT—and why is it different?
DBT Balances:
The Concept of “Dialectic”: weaving these seemingly opposite truths into something unified and wise
Change: walking toward the life you want
Acceptance: learning to embrace where you are
Rather than insisting something is “wrong” with you, DBT helps you say, “This is my experience—and I can learn to live beyond it.”
The Core Pillars of DBT
DBT is built around four foundational skill sets:
Mindfulness
At its heart, DBT is about presence. Mindfulness skills teach us to stay anchored in the current moment—observing thoughts and feelings without judgment, and grounding ourselves in the simplicity of now: breathing, sensing, existing.
In DBT, mindfulness isn’t just “relaxation”—it’s the bedrock of all growth. When you're aware of your own experience, you can begin to engage it, understand it, and respond wisely.
Distress Tolerance
Life doesn’t come with a pause button. DBT gives you tools—not to avoid pain, but to sit courageously within it. Techniques like self-soothing and radical acceptance help you lean into discomfort without reacting destructively .
This isn’t about enduring for endurance’s sake—it’s about choosing life in the midst of hardship, knowing that there is a reason you can only tolerate small amounts of hard, but that there is also so much hope for resilience and growth as you heal.
Emotion Regulation
Some emotions feel volcanic—overwhelming, sudden, or paralyzing. DBT offers a roadmap when we feel lost and out of control: naming feelings, reducing vulnerability, and changing emotion-driven behaviors.
It’s about gaining authority over emotional experience, not reacting like we always have.
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Relationships can leave us with so many scars, and so many unhealed and unseen wounds. And they can heal us. DBT provides guidance on how to hold boundaries, advocate for what you need, and affirm others—all while honoring your own dignity .
You learn to say “no” or “yes” with grace, honesty, and integrity.
Individual Therapy: Weekly one-on-one sessions where we explore targets (like reducing self-harm, depression, or panic), apply skills, and explore current issues and concerns.
DBT here is comprehensive, relational, and faith-integrated as clients desire:
How we approach DBT at Dwell Christian Therapy
Skills Group Therapy: A collaborative, supportive environment where clients learn—and practice—DBT skills in community (in person, Greensboro, NC).
Phone Coaching Sessions: Real-time encouragement for when that anxiety hits or relationships feel rough—available outside sessions.
Consultation Team: Trauma-informed therapists meet regularly to ensure you’re getting consistent, high-quality care, with shared wisdom and accountability.
Who can benefit from DBT?
Originally studied for borderline personality disorder and suicidality, DBT now has strong research behind its effectiveness for myriad concerns—including:
Depression, particularly chronic or treatment-resistant
Anxiety, PTSD, emotional dysregulation
Self-harm, suicidal thoughts, substance misuse
Complex trauma, eating disorders, and more
At Dwell, you don’t need a specific diagnosis to qualify for treatment. If your emotions are overwhelming, your relationships unhealthy, or your hope fading—DBT may be exactly the tool you need to grow, heal, and reclaim life.
Ready to jump in? Schedule a free phone consultation with our DBT specialist, Bethany, to see if DBT is right for your loved one.
Take the Next Step
towards Healing with DBT
Meet Bethany
Clinical Therapist & Educator | DBT Specialist
Areas of Specialty: Depression, Self-harm, Post-inpatient Care
Hey, I’m Bethany, and I’m so glad you stopped here on my page! This is where I thrive–right in the heart of chaos and crisis. Not because I love chaos (who does?) but because I know what it’s like to be there, and I can tell you that having someone who can see through it all and navigate the winding pathway to the other side is invaluable. Whether it’s living through what feels like chronic stress or instability or stepping down from inpatient care, I can help you and your family to stabilize, create a plan to move forward, and readjust to daily life with safety, hope, and renewed purpose.
I am passionate about walking alongside youth and young adults as they navigate challenging emotions, life transitions, and the ongoing process of healing. Sometimes this means addressing suicidal thoughts or self-harm. Sometimes this means figuring out what life looks like not in the hospital. And sometimes, it means making a plan for the life you want to live–tackling everything from anxiety and depression to past trauma and fears about the future.
As a Christian counselor, I believe that every person is made in the image of God and carries a unique story. Because of this, I approach therapy with a
deep respect for each individual’s journey. I create personalized treatment plans that integrate faith with evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), encouraging growth, emotional regulation, and a love for the life you have (and hope for the one you want).
Is DBT Right for You?
Consider if any of the following are true (of you or your child or loved one):
You feel overwhelmed by your emotions—panic, sadness, shame, rage—with little idea how to respond.
You’ve tried therapy before, but still feel stuck, reactive, or relationally stranded.
Isolation has become your safety zone—but it’s crushing you inside.
You want skills that work: practical, teachable, sustainable steps for daily life.
You're ready to connect with others, and with a therapist who is both psychologically skilled and spiritually aware.
What does DBT look like?
Step 1: Assessment & Orientation
Every person comes to therapy with a unique story. In this first phase, we take time to truly get to know you—your experiences, patterns, pain points, and personal hopes for healing. Together, we’ll identify strengths you already carry and areas you long to grow.
You’ll also learn what to expect from DBT: the structure, the skill modules, the rhythm of group and individual sessions, and how we integrate faith and neuroscience into the process. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all model—it’s a personalized map for the road ahead, designed in partnership with you.
Step 2: Establishing Safety
Before we build, we stabilize. This phase focuses on creating emotional and behavioral safety. We prioritize reducing high-risk behaviors such as self-harm, suicidal ideation, substance use, or chronic crisis cycles.
Using both compassionate presence and practical tools, we help you feel grounded and secure enough to do the deeper work. We also honor your dignity—ensuring that therapy is always a safe space where you are heard, seen, and supported without shame.
Step 3: Skill Building
This is the heart of DBT. Through weekly individual sessions and skills group, you’ll begin learning the four core DBT modules:
Mindfulness – cultivating presence and awareness
Distress Tolerance – navigating crisis without impulsive reactions
Emotion Regulation – understanding and shifting emotional intensity
Interpersonal Effectiveness – building and maintaining healthy boundaries and communication
We don’t just teach you what the skills are—we practice them with you, applying them to your real-life stressors. We also weave in conversations about identity, faith, suffering, and hope, creating space for both practical and spiritual transformation.
Step 4: Applying Skills to Real Life
Healing isn’t just about what happens in the therapy room—it’s what takes root between sessions. In this phase, we help you bring DBT skills into your day-to-day life using tools like diary cards, chain analysis, and journaling.
We explore real triggers and reactions and help you map the full pattern—from emotion to action to consequence—and then rewrite that narrative with healthier choices. Therapy becomes a space to reflect, recalibrate, and reimagine who you are becoming.
True growth means preparing for the hard days ahead with grace and wisdom. In the final stage, we focus on long-term resilience—equipping you with tools and perspective to stay grounded even when life gets messy again.
We celebrate progress (even the small wins), adjust goals as you evolve, and remain a community of support. DBT at Dwell is never about perfection—it’s about creating sustainable, faith-rooted practices for living with purpose, presence, and hope.
Step 5: Relapse Prevention & Growth
If you're asking, Is there hope for healing? Can I be more than my emotions?, then DBT might be the therapy that says: Yes. There is hope. You were built for this. And you don’t have to walk alone.