In Person in Nanaimo and Virtual Across British Columbia
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy is a structured, skills-based approach that supports emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and more stable relationships. It can be especially helpful when emotions feel intense or difficult to manage.
DBT focuses on building practical tools while also acknowledging the emotional pain behind behaviours. It balances acceptance and change, helping people feel understood while working toward meaningful shifts.
At The Nest, DBT-informed counselling is offered in a relational and flexible way, adapted to your individual needs rather than a one-size-fits-all model.
Counselling is offered in person in Nanaimo and virtually across British Columbia.
How DBT may help
People seek DBT-informed therapy for many reasons, including:
Emotional overwhelm or intense mood swings
Difficulty coping with distress or conflict
Intense and volatile relationship patterns
Emotional reactivity and dysregulation
Impulsive and harmful behaviours, such as substance abuse or eating disorders
Self-harm behaviours or thoughts
Support that builds steadiness and emotional safety
Support that focuses on helping you understand your emotional responses, build practical coping skills, and develop greater stability in how you relate to yourself and others. Therapy moves at a pace that respects both your capacity and your goals.
FAQs
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It refers to holding two seemingly opposite things as true at once — most centrally, that you're doing the best you can and you need to do better/try harder. DBT is built around this kind of both/and thinking rather than either/or.
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DBT was originally developed from CBT but adds a stronger emphasis on emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and acceptance-based skills, plus more structure (often including skills groups alongside individual sessions).
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It was originally developed for chronic suicidality and borderline personality disorder, but it's now widely used for emotion dysregulation, self-harm, eating disorders, substance use, and intense or unstable relationships.