Dialectical Behavior Therapy in Burlington, NJ
DBT centers around four skill modules: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. These skills help people stay present during difficult moments, cope with crises without making things worse, understand and manage their emotions, and communicate more effectively in relationships.
Pathways Behavioral Health in Burlington, New Jersey, offers dialectical behavior therapy as part of our comprehensive outpatient treatment programs. We combine individual therapy and group therapy sessions with life skills training to provide both personalized support and peer learning opportunities. To learn more about available treatment options, you can explore the clinical services at Pathways Behavioral Health.
What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?
Dialectical behavior therapy helps people balance acceptance of their current situation with the motivation to change harmful patterns through structured, skills-based treatment. The word “dialectical” refers to finding balance between two opposing ideas, specifically accepting yourself as you are while also working toward positive change. DBT therapists use both validation and problem-solving techniques to guide people through this process.
DBT teaches four main skill categories that work together to support emotional and behavioral change. Mindfulness is the foundation. Distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness build from there. Dialectical behavior therapy groups in New Jersey teach these skills over several months. This gives people time to practice and apply them in real life.
- Mindfulness: Builds awareness of the present moment without judgment, creating space between feeling an emotion and acting on it
- Distress Tolerance: Provides tools for surviving crises without making them worse through impulsive actions
- Emotion Regulation: Builds understanding of emotional triggers and offers strategies for managing intense feelings
- Interpersonal Effectiveness: Develops communication skills for maintaining relationships while meeting personal needs
In DBT, mindfulness means paying attention to the present moment without judging it. It helps you observe your thoughts and feelings without immediately reacting. Two common techniques include:
- Observe and Describe: Notice what’s happening internally and externally, then put it into words without adding interpretation
- One-Mindful: Focus completely on a single activity at a time, bringing full attention to the present task
Regular mindfulness practice creates space between experiencing an emotion and acting on it, so you can respond more thoughtfully instead of impulsively.
Distress tolerance skills help people get through crises without making them worse. These techniques focus on surviving difficult moments when changing the situation isn’t immediately possible. The TIPP skill offers quick relief through:
- Temperature: Using cold water or ice to activate the body’s calming response
- Intense Exercise: Brief physical activity to release emotional tension
- Paced Breathing: Slow, deep breaths to regulate the nervous system
- Paired Muscle Relaxation: Tensing and releasing muscle groups to reduce physical stress
The goal isn’t to fix the problem right away but to avoid destructive behaviors during high-stress moments.
Emotional regulation skills teach people to understand and manage intense emotions. These techniques help identify triggers and reduce emotional vulnerability. Key strategies include:
- Check the Facts: Examine whether your emotional response matches the actual situation
- Opposite Action: Act in a way that contradicts what the emotion urges, such as approaching rather than avoiding when anxiety says to run
- Build Positive Experiences: Intentionally create moments of joy and accomplishment
- Physical Self-Care: Maintain sleep, nutrition, and exercise to reduce emotional sensitivity
Interpersonal effectiveness skills focus on maintaining relationships while meeting personal needs. The DEAR MAN technique helps people communicate assertively.
How DBT Works for Mental Health Treatment
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based treatment designed to help individuals manage intense emotions, reduce harmful behaviors, and build healthier ways of coping with stress. DBT works by combining cognitive behavioral techniques with mindfulness and acceptance-based strategies, helping individuals balance emotional regulation with practical problem-solving skills.
Through structured therapy sessions, clients learn core DBT skills, mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. These skills teach individuals how to stay present during emotional distress, tolerate difficult situations without making them worse, understand and manage emotional responses, and communicate needs effectively. By practicing these skills consistently, individuals gain greater emotional stability, improved relationships, and lasting mental health improvement.
Mental Health Conditions Treated With DBT
DBT treats several mental health conditions where emotional regulation is key:
- Borderline Personality Disorder: Characterized by emotional instability, intense fear of abandonment, unstable relationships, and impulsive behaviors
- Depression: Persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities, changes in sleep and appetite, and feelings of hopelessness
- Anxiety Disorders: Excessive worry, fear responses, physical symptoms like rapid heartbeat, and avoidance behaviors
- PTSD: Intrusive thoughts, nightmares, flashbacks, emotional numbness, and hypervigilance following trauma
- Eating Disorders: Unhealthy relationships with food and body image, restrictive eating, or binge-purge cycles
- Substance Use Disorders: Patterns of drug or alcohol use combined with difficulty managing emotions
Who Can Benefit From DBT in New Jersey?
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is effective for a wide range of mental health concerns and can benefit anyone struggling with intense emotions, self-destructive behaviors, or difficulty managing stress. In New Jersey, DBT is often recommended for individuals who experience:
- Emotional dysregulation: DBT helps people manage intense emotions, reduce impulsive behaviors, and improve relationships by teaching skills for boundaries, communication, and emotional stability.
- Self-harm or suicidal behaviors: DBT teaches skills to cope with distress safely and reduce harmful behaviors.
- Trauma-related symptoms: Skills for distress tolerance and mindfulness support healing from trauma while maintaining emotional safety.
DBT is most effective when clients are committed to learning and practicing the skills consistently, ideally with support from trained clinicians in individual and group therapy settings.
What to Expect from DBT at Pathways Behavioral Health
Pathways Behavioral Health offers dialectical behavior therapy through a structured approach that combines multiple treatment formats. The program follows DBT principles to address emotion dysregulation, interpersonal difficulties, and impulsive behaviors. It is designed for adults seeking structured, skills-based mental health treatment in New Jersey.
DBT at Pathways Behavioral Health includes four treatment components that work together:
- Individual Therapy: Weekly one-on-one sessions focus on personal treatment goals and applying DBT skills to specific life challenges
- Group Skills Training: Weekly classes teach the four core DBT modules, allowing participants to learn alongside others facing similar challenges
- Phone Coaching: Between-session support helps individuals apply skills in real-time situations when challenges arise
- Therapist Consultation: Treatment teams meet regularly to maintain adherence to DBT principles and provide quality care
Licensed mental health counselors at Pathways Behavioral Health complete specialized training in dialectical behavior therapy methods. Certified DBT therapists complete intensive workshops and ongoing supervision. They follow protocols from the International Society for the Improvement and Teaching of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (ISITDBT).
Therapists participate in weekly consultation teams to keep treatment quality high. This helps them address complex clinical situations and apply DBT principles consistently.
Treatment planning starts with a thorough assessment of current symptoms, life challenges, and personal goals. Clinicians evaluate emotion dysregulation patterns, interpersonal difficulties, and behavioral concerns to create individualized plans. Assessment results guide decisions about treatment intensity and specific skill areas to prioritize.
Plans adapt over time based on progress and changing needs throughout recovery. Therapists collaborate with individuals to set realistic goals and identify barriers to achieving them.
Why Choose Pathways Behavioral Health for DBT?
Pathways Behavioral Health in Burlington, NJ, integrates dialectical behavior therapy into outpatient treatment programs for adults managing intense emotions, relationship difficulties, and co-occurring mental health conditions. The approach combines individual DBT sessions with skills training groups. This helps people develop emotion regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness. Participants can keep up with work, school, and family responsibilities.
We offer flexible scheduling through both intensive outpatient and standard outpatient formats, making DBT therapy accessible for people who can’t commit to residential treatment. Therapists trained in DBT techniques work alongside board-certified psychiatrists who provide medication management when needed. Treatment programs available at Pathways Behavioral Health allow for seamless transitions between levels of care as needs change throughout recovery.
DBT FAQs
Standard DBT programs run for six months and include weekly individual therapy sessions, weekly skills training groups, and phone coaching between sessions.
Most major insurance plans in New Jersey cover DBT from licensed professionals. Contact your provider to verify specific benefits and copays.
DBT therapists complete specialized training beyond their mental health licensure, including intensive workshops and ongoing consultation; those trained through ISITDBT-affiliated programs follow the research-backed DBT model.
DBT skills groups and individual therapy sessions work well through telehealth platforms, keeping the same structure as in-person treatment while letting you participate from home.
DBT combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness practices and teaches four specific skill sets through structured homework assignments and between-session coaching for real-time crisis support.
Improving Access to Mental Health Treatment
Taking the first step toward mental health treatment can feel overwhelming, but support is available throughout New Jersey. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) provides structured, skills-based care to help individuals manage intense emotions, improve relationships, and develop healthier coping strategies. Flexible scheduling, including evening and telehealth sessions, makes treatment accessible for work and family commitments.
At Pathways Behavioral Health in Burlington, NJ, DBT is offered as part of comprehensive mental health programs for adults experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, and co-occurring disorders. Our team combines evidence-based therapies, medication management, and recovery coaching to create individualized care plans. We’re dedicated to supporting each person’s unique journey toward emotional well-being with compassionate, accessible care. Contact us today.
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