At Imagine Wellness, we take a client-first approach to mental health treatment, going beyond individualized care and treating each client as the unique human you are.
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based form of psychotherapy that helps people develop practical skills for navigating intense emotions, distress, relationships, and difficult situations. Rather than simply telling you to change how you feel, DBT helps you understand your experiences while learning healthier ways to respond to them.
At Imagine Wellness, DBT may be incorporated into an individualized treatment plan based on your symptoms, needs, and goals. As part of our comprehensive mental health treatment services, DBT can help you strengthen coping skills and make meaningful changes in your everyday life.
Understanding DBT
Dialectical behavior therapy is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy developed to help people manage difficult emotions and behaviors. The word “dialectical” reflects one of the central ideas behind DBT: two things that seem contradictory can both be true.
In therapy, this often means learning to balance acceptance and change. You can acknowledge what you are experiencing in the present while also working toward behaviors, coping strategies, and relationships that better support your well-being.
DBT teaches practical skills that can be used both during treatment and in everyday situations. Treatment commonly focuses on four key areas:
These skills can be especially useful when emotions feel difficult to control or when patterns of reacting to distress begin interfering with relationships, responsibilities, or quality of life.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
DBT combines acceptance-based strategies with practical approaches for changing behaviors that may be causing distress or making life more difficult.
During DBT, you may learn to identify emotional triggers, notice patterns in how you respond to difficult situations, and practice new skills before applying them in daily life. Therapy can also help you become more aware of the connection between your emotions, thoughts, behaviors, and relationships.
Depending on your individualized treatment plan, DBT principles and skills may be incorporated into individual or group therapy. Your treatment team can help determine which therapeutic approaches are appropriate for your particular needs and goals.
The goal is not to eliminate difficult emotions. Instead, DBT can help you develop healthier ways to experience, tolerate, and respond to them.
Personalized Mental Health Care
Mental health treatment is not one-size-fits-all. At Imagine Wellness, therapy is tailored to the individual rather than built around a single diagnosis, symptom, or therapeutic technique.
Our clinicians may incorporate DBT alongside other evidence-based approaches as part of a broader treatment plan. Depending on your needs, treatment may also include other forms of psychotherapy, medication management, skill development, and additional clinical support.
Imagine Wellness provides multiple levels of outpatient mental health care, allowing treatment intensity and structure to be matched to each person’s needs. Our goal is to help you build skills that extend beyond treatment and support greater stability, confidence, and independence in everyday life.
Who DBT May Help
DBT was originally developed for people with borderline personality disorder (BPD), but its principles and skills are now used more broadly in mental health treatment.
DBT may be helpful for people experiencing challenges such as:
DBT skills may be incorporated into treatment for certain mental health conditions, including personality disorders and bipolar disorder, when clinically appropriate.
A diagnosis alone does not determine whether DBT is the right therapeutic approach. Your treatment team can consider your symptoms, history, current challenges, and goals when developing an individualized plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily. Although DBT was originally developed for borderline personality disorder (BPD), its skills may be useful for people experiencing a range of emotional and behavioral challenges. Whether DBT is appropriate depends on your individual symptoms, needs, and treatment goals rather than a single diagnosis.
DBT commonly focuses on four key skill areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. These skills can help you become more aware of your emotions, cope with difficult situations, communicate more effectively, and respond to challenges in healthier ways.
No. DBT developed from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and the two approaches share some principles, but they are not identical. CBT generally focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful patterns of thinking and behavior. DBT places additional emphasis on balancing acceptance and change while building skills for managing emotions, tolerating distress, and navigating relationships.
No. DBT was originally developed to treat borderline personality disorder, but its principles and skills may also be incorporated into treatment for people experiencing other mental health concerns involving emotional regulation, distress, impulsivity, or relationship difficulties.
The right therapeutic approach depends on your symptoms, treatment history, current challenges, and goals. A mental health assessment can help determine whether DBT or another evidence-based therapy may be appropriate as part of your individualized treatment plan.
Many health insurance plans include benefits for behavioral health treatment, but coverage varies by plan. Factors such as medical necessity, level of care, provider network, and individual benefits can affect coverage. Imagine Wellness can help you verify your insurance benefits before beginning treatment.
Your Health Insurance Can Help Cover Treatment
Insurance coverage for mental health treatment varies depending on your specific policy and benefits. Our team can help you understand your coverage and determine what benefits may be available for treatment at Imagine Wellness.
Begin Your Next Step
Learning to manage intense emotions or change long-standing patterns can take time, practice, and the right support. You do not have to figure out what kind of treatment you need on your own.
Imagine Wellness provides individualized, evidence-based mental health treatment for adults in the Atlanta area. Our team can learn more about what you are experiencing, discuss your treatment options, and determine whether DBT may be appropriate as part of your care.
Call (770) 270-3681 or request a confidential assessment to get started.
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
Structured, full-day mental health treatment with intensive therapy and clinical support—without overnight care.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
Flexible outpatient care that provides consistent therapy and support while you stay connected to daily life.
Continuing Care
Personalized planning to help support ongoing mental health and long-term stability.
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At Imagine Wellness Centers, we make it simple to take that first step toward healing. Our streamlined admissions process can often lead to same-day placement in treatment for mental health programs.
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At Imagine Wellness, we work with most major private insurance providers to make treatment affordable and accessible. Complete our quick, confidential form below, and we’ll let you know if your plan is in-network.
Commonly accepted providers include:
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) • Aetna • Cigna • UnitedHealthcare • Humana • Anthem • Tricare
What Happens Next
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