We specialize in treating individuals struggling with emotion regulation.

DBT is a good fit for anyone experiencing:

  • Frequently changing up-and-down extreme emotions

  • Problems with anger

  • Chaotic relationships

  • Fears of abandonment

  • Difficulties with sense of self

  • Feeling empty

  • Self-harm behaviors

  • Impulsive behaviors

  • Suicidal ideation

  • Suicide attempts

  • Recurrent hospitalizations

  • Extensive history of treatment or treatment failures

  • Disordered eating behaviors

  • Substance use

  • School refusal

  • Avoidance

  • Isolation

  • Trauma

  • Physical aggression

  • Temper tantrums

  • Failure to launch

  • Dissociation

  • Pervasive shame

Common clinical diagnoses we see, but are not limited to, include…

Personality Disorders, Mood Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders, Substance Use Disorders & Addiction, Eating Disorders, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders

Chicago DBT® accepts patients ages 6 and up.

DBT has been evaluated and found to be effective among individuals from diverse backgrounds in terms of age, gender, sexual orientation, and race/ethnicity. We see clients through every stage of life, ranging from:

  • Children (ages 6-12 years)

  • Adolescents (ages 12-18 years)

  • Young Adults (ages 18-25 years)

  • Adults (ages 25-60 years)

  • Older Adults (ages 60+ years)

Learn more about age-specific programs:

DBT for Adolescents (DBT-A)
DBT for Children (DBT-C)

Are you ready for treatment?

A number of benefits are available from participating in therapy. Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies. Many people also find that therapists can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage issues, and the hassles of daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn.

  • Clarify your goals, values, and personal growth.

  • Learn effective ways to handle challenges.

  • Develop skills to strengthen relationships rather than harm them.

  • Address the concerns that brought you to therapy.

  • Discover strategies to stay calm and balanced.

  • Learn to step off the emotional roller coaster. Manage anger, grief, depression, and other difficult feelings.

  • Improve how you express yourself and listen to others.

  • Replace harmful habits with healthier ones.

  • Find new ways to address family, relationship, or marriage challenges.

  • Strengthen your self-belief and competence.

  • Create a life that feels meaningful and fulfilling.

“Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know.”

— Pema Chodron