Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) at Alchemy Collective is a structured, evidence-based therapeutic approach that combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with principles of mindfulness and acceptance. Originally developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan to treat borderline personality disorder, DBT has proven effective for a wide range of conditions involving emotional dysregulation, self-destructive behaviors, and interpersonal difficulties.

The term "dialectical" refers to the integration of seemingly opposite concepts: acceptance and change. DBT teaches you to accept yourself, your emotions, and your life circumstances while simultaneously developing skills to change unhelpful patterns and create a life worth living. This balance is essential for deep and lasting transformation.

Our DBT-trained therapists at Alchemy Collective provide this therapy with compassion, skill, and a deep understanding of the challenges involved in emotional regulation and interpersonal relationships.

Core Components of DBT

DBT focuses on four essential skill sets:

Mindfulness Skills: Learn to observe, describe, and participate in the present moment without judgment. These foundational skills help you become aware of your thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations without being overwhelmed by them.

Distress Tolerance Skills: Develop practical strategies to survive crisis situations without making them worse. These skills help you accept reality as it is in moments of distress and find ways to soothe yourself effectively.

Emotion Regulation Skills: Understand, identify, and manage your emotions more effectively. Learn to reduce emotional vulnerability, increase positive emotional experiences, and change emotions that aren't serving you.

Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills: Build skills to maintain your self-respect, strengthen relationships, and achieve your interpersonal goals. These skills help you communicate needs, set boundaries, and navigate conflicts effectively.

Who Can Benefit from DBT

DBT can be particularly effective for individuals experiencing:

• Emotional Dysregulation - Difficulty managing intense emotions

• Borderline Personality Disorder - Including traits or full diagnosis

• Self-Destructive Behaviors - Including self-harm, suicidal thoughts, or substance use

• Eating Disorders - Including binge eating, bulimia, or anorexia

• Trauma Responses - Especially when accompanied by emotional regulation difficulties

• Relationship Patterns - Difficulties with maintaining stable relationships

• Impulsivity - Acting without consideration of consequences

• Black and White Thinking - Seeing situations in extremes rather than nuance

The Alchemy Collective Difference

At Alchemy Collective, our approach to DBT is:

Trauma-Informed: We understand how trauma impacts emotional regulation and integrate this knowledge into our DBT work.

Flexible and Personalized: While honoring the structure of DBT, we adapt our approach to your unique needs and circumstances.

Integrative: When beneficial, we combine DBT with other modalities such as somatic processing or EMDR to address underlying trauma.

Skills-Based and Insight-Oriented: We help you develop practical skills while also understanding the roots of emotional dysregulation.

Supportive of Lasting Change: Our goal is not just symptom reduction but helping you create a life aligned with your deepest values.