DBT Therapy in Pennsylvania (PA), Virginia (VA), and Delaware (DE)

Understanding the DBT Model: Why Individual Therapy and Skills Group Work Best Together

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a structured, evidence-based treatment created specifically for people who experience emotions intensely and struggle with emotional regulation, impulsive behaviors, and relationship instability. If you’re exploring DBT, you may be wondering why the model includes both individual therapy and DBT skills group, and why attending individual DBT alone is not considered comprehensive treatment.

This question comes up often and it’s an important one.

DBT was intentionally designed as a multi-component treatment because emotional suffering rarely improves through insight alone. DBT recognizes that people need both support and skills, both understanding and practice, and both individual attention and structured learning in order to create lasting change.

Comprehensive DBT includes both individual DBT therapy and weekly DBT skills group, which work together to support skill-building, accountability, and real-life change.

The Core Philosophy of DBT: Acceptance and Change

At the heart of DBT is a balance between two equally important truths:

• You are doing the best you can.

• You can learn new ways to cope that reduce suffering.

This balance, known as dialectics, means therapy is not about blaming you for your struggles, nor is it about staying stuck in them. DBT creates an environment that is deeply validating of your past experiences and emotional pain, while also actively supporting growth, accountability, and change.

Many people who benefit from DBT have been told they are “too emotional,” “too reactive,” or “too much.” DBT starts from the assumption that your emotions and behaviors make sense given your history, biology, and environment, and that you deserve tools that actually work in real life. DBT is most effective when it includes both weekly individual therapy and weekly DBT skills group. Each component serves a different purpose, and together they create a complete treatment model.

Individual DBT Therapy: Personalized Support and Application

Individual DBT sessions focus on your specific experiences, challenges, and goals.

In individual therapy, we will work together to:

• Understand patterns in emotions, behaviors, and relationships

• Address behaviors that are putting your safety or quality of life at risk

• Apply DBT skills to real situations in your life

• Build insight, motivation, and accountability

Individual therapy provides space to slow things down, process what’s coming up for you, and receive personalized support. It’s where we look closely at moments that felt overwhelming and figure out how to respond differently next time.

However, individual therapy is not where DBT skills are taught in depth.

DBT Skills Group: Learning the Tools That Make Change Possible

DBT skills group is where you learn the actual skills of Dialectical Behavior Therapy. These sessions are structured, educational, and focused on teaching tools you can use outside of therapy.

DBT skills group is not group therapy in the traditional sense. You are not expected to share your trauma, process daily stressors, or give feedback to other participants. Instead, group time is spent learning, practicing, and reviewing skills that help with:

• Managing intense emotions

• Tolerating distress without making things worse

• Navigating relationships more effectively

• Slowing down reactions and increasing awareness

The skills taught in DBT are practical and meant to be used in everyday life like during conflict, moments of overwhelm, emotional crises, and relationship challenges.

Why Individual DBT Alone Is Not Comprehensive DBT

Some therapists offer DBT informed individual therapy without skills group. While this can still be helpful, it is important to understand that this is not the full DBT model.

DBT was designed to work the way it does for a reason.

Without skills group:

• Skills are often introduced inconsistently or briefly

• Clients may rely heavily on the therapist rather than building independence

• Progress can feel slower or more fragile during crises

• Clients may intellectually understand skills without fully learning how to use them

Skills group ensures that skills are taught systematically, practiced repeatedly, and reinforced over time. This repetition is especially important for people whose emotions escalate quickly or who struggle to access coping strategies in the moment.

When individual therapy and skills group are combined:

• Individual sessions focus on how to apply skills

• Group sessions focus on learning and strengthening skills

• Clients gain confidence using tools independently

• Therapy becomes more effective, stable, and sustainable

DBT Treatment in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virginia

I provide DBT therapy and DBT skills groups via telehealth for adults throughout Pennsylvania (PA), Delaware (DE), and Virginia (VA), including Delaware County, Montgomery County, and the Main Line Philadelphia area.

Whether you are searching for DBT near me, comprehensive DBT treatment, or a structured approach that goes beyond talk therapy, the full DBT model offers clarity, consistency, and real tools for change.