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Find your fit

Meet the cliniciansWarm and down-to-earth. Find the right match for you.Find a psychologist
Visit us:Parramatta clinicTelehealth AU-wideGet directions New clients welcome · no referral needed
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy

Steady ground when emotions run high.

DBT teaches concrete skills for riding out intense emotions, staying steady in relationships, and acting in line with your goals, even when everything inside says otherwise.

Request appointment How it works
What it helps with

What DBT helps with

Every plan is tailored to you. This is a guide to where this approach is most often used.

Not sure if it's the right fit? That's exactly what your first session is for. We'll recommend the approach (or blend of approaches) that suits you.

How it works

The approach, step by step.

A clear sense of how the work unfolds, always at your pace.

  1. 1

    Learn the four skill sets

    Mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness: practical tools for the moments that overwhelm you.

    Early sessions
  2. 2

    Practise in real life

    Between sessions you apply the skills where they matter, with structured support to make them stick.

    The sessions that follow
  3. 3

    Build a life worth living

    We keep the bigger picture in view, using the skills not just to cope, but to build the life you actually want.

    Ongoing

DBT balances acceptance and change: you're met exactly where you are, while building skills to move forward. Sessions are structured and skill-focused.

Fees & funding

Know your costs before you start.

With a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP, Medicare rebates apply to individual therapy. We'll always be clear about costs before you begin.

See fees
  • Medicare: rebates on up to 10 sessions a year with a Mental Health Treatment Plan.
  • NDIS, DVA, Workers Comp & CTP: usually no out-of-pocket cost when approved.
  • Private health: claim through your extras cover, with no referral needed.
A consulting room with a black leather sofa, grey armchairs, plants and a desk.
Your clinicians

Practitioners who use this approach.

See all clinicians
Common questions

Things people ask before booking.

Is DBT only for borderline personality disorder?
No. DBT was developed for BPD but its skills help anyone who experiences emotions intensely or struggles with impulsivity, relationships or distress.
Is it individual or group?
We offer DBT-informed individual therapy. If a full DBT program with group skills training would suit you better, we'll help you find one.
What skills does DBT teach?
DBT teaches four main skill sets: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness. Together they help you notice what you're feeling, get through hard moments without making things worse, and ask for what you need in relationships. Your psychologist will focus on the skills most useful for you.
Can DBT be done online?
Yes. DBT-informed individual sessions can be held over telehealth, and many people practise their skills at home between sessions. Your psychologist will check that online sessions feel safe and workable for you.
What is the difference between DBT and CBT?
DBT grew out of CBT, so they share a practical, skills-based style. DBT adds a strong focus on acceptance and mindfulness, and on managing intense emotions and relationships. It balances accepting yourself as you are with working towards change.
Is DBT covered by Medicare?
Psychologists can provide DBT-informed therapy within Medicare's Better Access arrangements. If you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP, you may be eligible for Medicare rebates on sessions with a psychologist. Our team can explain how it works and help you find a full DBT program if that would suit you better.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can book directly with us any time. A referral and Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP is only needed to claim Medicare rebates.
Related
References
  1. Storebø OJ, Stoffers-Winterling JM, Völlm BA, Kongerslev MT, Mattivi JT, Jørgensen MS, Faltinsen E, Todorovac A, Sales CP, Callesen HE, Lieb K, Simonsen E. (2020). Psychological therapies for people with borderline personality disorder. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020(5), CD012955. doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD012955.pub2
  2. Kliem S, Kröger C, Kosfelder J. (2010). Dialectical behavior therapy for borderline personality disorder: A meta-analysis using mixed-effects modeling. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 78(6), 936-951. doi.org/10.1037/a0021015
  3. National Health and Medical Research Council. (2012). Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Borderline Personality Disorder. Melbourne: NHMRC. www.nhmrc.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/reports/clinical%20guidelines/mh25-bpd-guideline.pdf
Reading and tools

Further reading and free tools.

From the Journal

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Fact sheets

All fact sheets

Free self-checks

The Mind Health Check
Which approach might suit? A rough guide to what each therapy focuses on most; your psychologist will help you choose, and many people use more than one.

Thinking and behaviour

Emotion and acceptance

Trauma memory

Relationships

Strengths and solutions

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Accepting new clients

Your next step starts here.

Tell us what's going on and we'll match you with the right psychologist, usually after a free triage. No referral needed to begin.

Request appointment Call 1300 084 200
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