Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Scottsdale
What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)?
DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) is an evidence-based approach created by Marsha Linehan in the late 1980’s to treat high emotional sensitivity and instability-originally for borderline personality disorders (BPD) but has since proven effective for a wide range of mental health conditions including:
- Anxiety and panic disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Depression
- Eating Disorders
- Substance use
- Self-harm and suicidal ideation
The word “dialectical” means balancing two opposing ideas at once. For example, accepting yourself as you are while also working to change harmful behaviors.
This core principle of DBT is woven into every aspect of treatment: Clients are encouraged to embrace both acceptance and growth, often at the same time.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, DBT is skills-based and collaborative. It emphasizes practical tools to regulate emotions, tolerate distress, and communicate more effectively.
The therapy is structured, goal oriented, and often delivered in both individual and group settings, depending on client needs.
At Pathways Counseling Services, we integrate DBT into personalized treatment plans that empower clients to gain better control over their emotions and relationships.
Whether you’re dealing with chronic emotional pain or recurring life crises, DBT offers a roadmap toward stability, confidence, and healthier connection.
Who Can Benefit from DBT?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is designed for individuals who feel overwhelmed by their emotions, struggle with impulsive behaviors, or find themselves stuck in unhelpful relationship patterns.
It’s especially helpful when traditional talk therapy hasn’t been effective, and there’s a need for concrete, structure tools to manage day-to-day emotional challenges.
At Pathways Counseling Services in Scottsdale, AZ we work with adults, teens, and young adults who are navigating a wide range of issues, including:
- Boarderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
- Emotional dysregulation or mood instability
- Chronic anxiety or depression
- Suicidal thoughts or self-harming behavior
- Substance use or addiction
- Eating disorders,
- Trauma and PTSD
- Difficulty with relationships or trust
- Impulsivity, rage, or panic attacks
You don’t need a specific diagnosis to benefit from DBT. If you feel like your emotions are running your life or if you’ve been told you’re “too sensitive” this therapy can offer validation, structure, and support you need to regain control and create lasting change.
The Four Core Skills of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT is a skills-based therapy that teaches you practical strategies to manage emotions, cope with distress, and navigate relationships more effectively. At Pathways Counseling Services in Scottsdale, we help clients develop and strengthen these four foundational skill sets, each designed to bring more balance and stability into everyday life.
Mindfulness is the foundation of all DBT skills. It teaches you to stay present in the moment, observe your thoughts without judgement, and respond to situations with clarity rather than emotional reactivity.
You’ll learn to:
- Tune into your emotions and body sensations
- Break free from automatic, impulsive behaviors
- Build emotional awareness and self-compassion
2. Distress Tolerance: Surviving the Storm without Self-Destruction
When life feels overwhelming, distress tolerance skills help you survive emotional crises without making things worse. These techniques are essential for managing intense emotions without turning to unhealthy coping mechanisms like self-harm or substance use. At Pathways Counseling Services in Scottsdale, we help you develop the tools to withstand emotional crises without making things worse. These skills solve the problem immediately but they by you time, protect your well being, and give you the power to ride out the storm.
What Distress Tolerance Helps With:
- Intense emotional pain or overwhelm
- Urges to self-harm, lash out, or shut down
- Feelings of panic, rage, or numbness
- High-stress moments where logic feels out of reach
What You’ll Learn:
- Crisis survival techniques- what to do when you’re emotionally flooded
- Grounding tools- like cold water, breathing resets, or safe distractions
- Radical acceptance- learning to accept reality when you can’t change it
- Self-soothing skills- sensory-based techniques to calm the nervous system
You don’t need to suppress your emotions, you just need a way to stay steady long enough to choose a healthier response.
These skills are essential for anyone who has ever said: “I don’t know what happened, I just snapped,” or “I had to something to make the pain stop.”
With practice, distress tolerance becomes your emotional life jacket there for you when the wave hit the hardest.
3. Emotion Regulation: Learning to Navigate Intense Emotions with Confidence
If your emotions feel unpredictable, overwhelming, or completely out of your control, you’re not alone. Many people come to DBT feeling like they’re “too sensitive” Or that their reactions don’t match the situation. That’s where emotion regulation skills come in.
At Pathways Counseling Services in Scottsdale, We help you build a toolkit to understand, name and influence our emotional responses. With time and practice, you’ll gain the ability to ride emotional waves instead of getting swept away by them.
What Emotion Regulation Helps With:
- How to identify and label emotions accuratlely
- What triggers your emotional patterns and how to interrupt them
- Daily habits to reduce emotional vulnerability (sleep, nutrition, boundaries)
- How to increase positive emotions and self-respect over time
Emotion regulation doesn’t mean ignoring your feelings. It means having the power to respond instead of react to choose your actions even when emotions run high.
You’ll discover that emotions aren’t the enemy. They’re information and DBT gives you the tools to interpret them, respond effectively, and find your balance.
4. Interpersonal Effectiveness: Building Stronger, Healthier Relationships
Do you often feel misunderstood, walk on eggshells in relationships, or struggle to express your needs without guilt or conflict? You’re not alone. Many people in DBT therapy come in feeling torn between pleasing others and protecting themselves.
Interpersonal effectiveness skills are designed to help you communicate more clearly, assert your boundaries with confidence, and build relationships based on mutual respect. At Pathways Counseling Services in Scottsdale, we teach you how to express your needs without pushing others away or losing yourself in the process.
What Interpersonal Effectiveness Helps With:
- Saying “no” without guilt or anxiety
- Asking for what you need without fear
- Navigating conflict without blowing up pr shutting down
- Building trust in relationships (with friends, family, partners or coworkers)
What You’ll Learn:
- Assertive communication skills that respect both yourself and others
- How to keep your self-respect while still maintaining relationships
- How to recognize and respond to manipulation or emotional invalidation
- How to identify your own values and priorities in connection
Relationships are where so much emotional pain happens but they’re also where healing begins. DBT’s interpersonal effectiveness skills help you connect without losing yourself, and set boundaries without shame or fear.
Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Right for You?
📞 “Find Balance. Reconnect with Yourself.”
Start your journey toward emotional clarity and healthier relationships.
whether you’re struggling with intense emotions, relationship challenges, or feeling overwhelmed by daily life, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) can give you the tools to regain control and start moving forward.
At Pathways Counseling Services in Scottsdale, Arizona, our licensed DBT- trained therapists offer a supportive, structure approach to emotional healing and long term growth. We’re here to meet you exactly where you are-with empathy, expertise, and a belief in your ability to change.
Take the First Step Today
In-person or telehealth sessions available across Arizona
Flexible scheduling for busy lives
Call 480-235-1682
You don’t have to do it alone. DBT can help you feel more in control, more connected, and more you.
Contact us for your DBT session!
Our Therapists
Sofia Softas-Nall, MS, MA, LPC, NCC Licensed Professional Counselor | Nationally Certified Counselor Sofia Softas-Nall is a therapist in Scottsdale AZ and a Nationally Certified Co
Read MoreSofia Softas-Nall, MS, MA, LPC, NCC
Therapist
Stephanie Levitt, MA, LPC, NCC Licensed Professional Counselor | EMDR Certified Therapist in Scottsdale, AZ Helping Adults, Teens, Couples. Trauma and Anxiety,
Read MoreStephanie Levitt, MA, LPC, NCC
Therapist
Chloe Cheek, MA, LAC Licensed Associate Counselor in Scottsdale AZ Modalities: teens, adults, couples, and families navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, OCD, and major life tran
Read MoreChloe Cheek, MA, LAC
Therapist
Meet Stephanie Levitt, MA, LPC, NCC the Founder our Pathways Counseling Services
Stephanie Levitt, MA, LPC, NCC is a licensed professional counselor in Scottsdale, Arizona, with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals through anxiety, trauma, PTSD, and fear-based challenges. She is trained in a variety of evidence-based approaches, including exposure therapy, SBT and EMDR.
Stephanie believes in walking beside her clients with empathy, clarity, and clinical skill-offering a personalized approach to every individual. Her mission is to help you regain your confidence, reduce avoidance, and feel empowered again.
Outside the therapy room, Stephanie has been featured on. podcasts, radio shows, and panel discussions, where she speaks about trauma recover,, woman’s mental health, and practical therapy techniques.
Contact us today for your DBT session!
Frequently asked questions
What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)?
DBT is an evidence based therapy that helps people manage intense emotions, develop healthier coping skills, and improve relatiohships. It combines acceptance strategies with change strategies to support long term emotional and behavioral growth.,
Who is DBT therapy suited for?
DBT is especially helpful for individuals struggling with mood swings, anxiety, borderline personality disorder (BDP), self-harm trauma or unstable relationships. You don’t need a specific diagnosis to benefit from DBT just a desire to build emotional control and stronger coping tools.
How is DBT different from regular talk therapy?
Unlike traditional therapy, DBT is structured, skills-based and focused on practical tools. It helps clients build specific skills in mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
How long does DBT take to wor?
Many people begin noticing improvements within the fist few months of DBT, especialy when they consistently practice the skills outside of session . A full DBT program may oast 6-12 months or more depending on your needs and goals.
Do you offer DBT for teens or young adults?
Yes! At Pathways Counseling Services in Scottsdale, we offer DBT informed therapy for teens, young adults, and adults. Each plan is tailored to your age, development, and personal needs.
Change is Possible with DPT
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