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

Individual Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Sessions

Many clients combine individual DBT therapy with weekly DBT skills group, as this is the most effective and adherent model of DBT treatment.

Individual DBT Therapy: How It’s Different From Traditional Talk Therapy

Individual Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) sessions are different from traditional talk therapy in important ways. While your emotions, experiences, and relationships are always valued, DBT is designed to help you make real, measurable changes, especially if you struggle with intense emotions, impulsive behaviors, or patterns associated with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).

In individual DBT therapy, sessions are structured, skills-based, and goal-directed. Rather than spending sessions only talking about what happened, we focus on understanding why certain behaviors occur and building skills to respond differently in the future.

Each DBT session is guided by your daily diary card, which you complete between sessions. Diary cards track emotions, urges, behaviors, stressors, and DBT skills use. This allows us to focus on what is most important right now and ensures therapy stays effective and aligned with your treatment goals.

For example, if your diary card shows self-harm urges or behaviors, we will look closely at what led up to that moment and identify which DBT skills can help reduce the likelihood of it happening again. DBT does not shame behaviors. Instead, it focuses on understanding what they do for you and building safer, more effective alternatives.

Core Treatment Targets in Individual DBT Therapy

Dialectical Behavior Therapy follows a clear treatment hierarchy to help stabilize your life and reduce suffering.

In individual DBT sessions, we work together on the following targets:

Skills are primarily taught in DBT Skills Group, while individual DBT sessions focus on reinforcing skill use, troubleshooting barriers, and applying skills to real-life situations.

Individual DBT therapy is especially effective for adults seeking DBT for BPD, emotion dysregulation, chronic suicidal ideation, or difficulty managing relationships and stress.

Cost of Individual DBT Therapy Sessions

The fee for individual DBT therapy is $200 per 60-minute session. Approximately five minutes at the end of each session are reserved for scheduling follow-up appointments, reviewing homework, and completing payment.

Payment is due at the end of each session and is processed securely by credit card through SimplePractice, a HIPAA-compliant electronic medical record and payment system.

While I am not in-network with insurance providers, I can provide a monthly superbill that you may submit to your insurance company for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Reimbursement depends on your individual insurance plan and benefits.

Including Supports in DBT Therapy

DBT recognizes the importance of support systems in treatment. With a completed release of information, I can collaborate with supports such as medication prescribers, emergency contacts, or family members when clinically appropriate.

If you would like to schedule a formal support session with a family member or other support person, this can be arranged as needed. Support sessions are structured to improve communication, increase understanding of DBT, and support your treatment goals.

The fee for a support session is $250.

DBT Therapy in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virginia

I provide individual DBT therapy for adults via telehealth throughout Pennsylvania (PA), Delaware (DE), and Virginia (VA), including Delaware County, Montgomery County, and the Main Line Philadelphia area. Telehealth allows clients across PA, VA, and DE to access specialized DBT treatment without geographic limitations.

If you are looking for an experienced DBT therapist who offers structured, evidence-based care with warmth and accountability, individual DBT therapy may be a strong fit.