What does DBT treat?
Anxiety
DBT addresses anxiety by strengthening mindfulness, emotional regulation and distress tolerance skills. Clients learn how to notice anxious thoughts without being overwhelmed by them, regulate physiological arousal, and respond more effectively to fear and uncertainty.
Depression
When low mood, hopelessness or withdrawal take over, DBT supports clients to gradually re-engage with life. By combining acceptance and change strategies, it strengthens emotional regulation and increases effective action. The aim is to build resilience, stability and a renewed sense of meaning.
BPD/EUPD
DBT was developed for individuals who experience persistent emotional dysregulation, relationship instability and high-risk behaviours. It combines psychological and behavioural strategies to reduce crisis behaviours and strengthen emotional regulation. The focus is on increasing safety, stability and building a life worth living.
Autism
For individuals with Autism, DBT provides structured, skills-based support for navigating overwhelming emotions, social stress and change. Its clear and practical framework builds emotional regulation, distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness. The approach is collaborative, validating and grounded in skill development.
ADHD
For individuals with ADHD, DBT can help with emotional sensitivity, impulsivity and interpersonal challenges. Skills in mindfulness and emotional regulation can improve focus, strengthen self-control, and enhance communication. The structured framework offers practical tools for everyday life.
Eating Disorders
DBT supports individuals struggling with eating disorders by targeting the emotional and behavioural patterns that maintain them. Through skills in distress tolerance, emotion regulation and mindful awareness, clients develop healthier ways to respond to urges and build a more stable relationship with food and body.
Self-Harm
DBT helps individuals understand and reduce self-harm by identifying the emotions and situations that trigger it. Rather than judging the behaviour, DBT replaces it with safer, more effective coping strategies through distress tolerance and emotion regulation skills. The focus is on increasing safety while building lasting change.
Suicidal Thoughts
DBT was originally developed to treat suicidal thoughts and life-threatening behaviours. Through skills training, individual therapy and phone coaching, clients learn practical ways to manage intense emotions and navigate moments of crisis. The ultimate goal is increased safety, sustained stability, and a life worth living.
What does DBT involve?
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a structured, evidence-based programme designed to help you build a life that feels more stable, manageable, and meaningful.
At DBT UK, we deliver the full model of DBT—combining skills training, individual therapy, and in-the-moment support. It’s a practical, active approach to therapy that supports real change.
DBT Skills Training
Skills groups are at the core of DBT.
Delivered weekly, at the same time each week, these 90-minute sessions take a structured, psychoeducational approach. You’ll learn practical skills across four key areas—mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness—and how to apply them in day-to-day life.
1:1 DBT Sessions
Alongside the group, weekly one-to-one sessions provide personalised support.
You’ll work with your therapist to apply DBT skills to your own experiences, reduce unhelpful behaviours, and progress towards your goals.
Sessions are available online or in person.
Crisis Coaching
DBT continues between sessions.
With access to 7-day-a-week phone coaching, you can reach out in moments of distress. Your therapist will help you apply DBT skills in real time, so you can navigate the situation more effectively.
DBT for adults and adolescents
DBT is for people who feel overwhelmed by their emotions, struggle in relationships, or fi nd themselves repeating patterns they want to change.
We support both adults and adolescents through a structured programme that helps you build stability, confi dence, and effective ways of coping.
Built on Clinical Integrity
DBT UK was founded by Darryl Christie with a clear mission: to provide adherent, evidence-based Dialectical Behaviour Therapy delivered with integrity, rigour, and passion.
Darryl is one of the UK’s most experienced accredited DBT clinicians and was among the first in the country to achieve accreditation in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. He trained with the Linehan Institute in the USA and received advanced supervision from leading international experts including Dr Heidi Heard and Dr Melanie Harned.
Having worked extensively across the NHS, private healthcare, and voluntary sector, Darryl founded DBT UK in response to the growing need for high-quality DBT delivered with fidelity to the evidence base. At a time when many services offer diluted or heavily adapted approaches to DBT, we remain committed to the treatment model and research that underpin its effectiveness.
Our clinicians bring strong DBT training, clinical experience, and a shared commitment to delivering the model with consistency, accountability, challenge, and compassion. They also bring warmth, humour, and engaging teaching to the work, creating a therapeutic environment that is both rigorous and human. We are deeply invested in this work because we have seen how life-changing adherent DBT can be when delivered properly.