Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based psychological approach that focuses on building skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness. At HMCE, DBT-informed strategies may be used within Psychology appointments to support people who experience intense emotions, feel overwhelmed under stress, or want practical tools to improve coping and communication.
DBT is structured, skills-based, and strongly focused on real-life application. While DBT is often discussed as a comprehensive program in some settings, many people benefit from DBT-informed therapy skills delivered within standard Psychology sessions. This page explains DBT as an approach that may be used in sessions, depending on clinical suitability and your goals.
What Is Dialectical Behaviour Therapy?
DBT was developed to help people manage emotional intensity and patterns that can feel difficult to control. “Dialectical” refers to balancing two things that can seem opposite but are both true—such as acceptance and change. In practice, DBT validates what you are experiencing while also teaching skills to move toward healthier coping and behaviour.
DBT-informed work often supports reducing emotional overwhelm, improving decision-making during stress, and strengthening relationships through clearer communication and boundaries.
How DBT Works
DBT is organised around practical skills that can be learned and practised over time. Within Psychology sessions, DBT-informed work may include learning skills, applying them to real situations, and reviewing what helped (or what got in the way) between appointments.
- Mindfulness: learning to notice thoughts and emotions without immediately reacting
- Emotion regulation: understanding emotions and building strategies to reduce intensity
- Distress tolerance: coping through crises without making situations worse
- Interpersonal effectiveness: improving communication, boundaries, and relationship stability
What DBT-Informed Support Can Help With
DBT-informed skills may support a range of concerns addressed within Psychology services, particularly when emotions feel intense, reactions feel hard to control, or relationships and stress are difficult to manage. The emphasis is on practical coping skills and stable progress over time.
- Emotional overwhelm, intense mood shifts, or difficulty calming down
- Anger, irritability, and impulsive reactions
- Stress-related shutdowns or feeling “flooded” in conflict
- Relationship conflict, boundary difficulties, or communication challenges
- Anxiety, rumination, and difficulty tolerating uncertainty
- Burnout and difficulty balancing demands with recovery
What Happens in an Initial DBT-Informed Appointment
In an Initial Appointment, your psychologist will explore what you are experiencing, how it is impacting daily life, and what you want to change. DBT-informed work often begins with understanding your emotional patterns, triggers, and current coping strategies. Together, you may identify a small set of priorities to focus on first—such as reducing emotional escalation, managing conflict, or building distress tolerance skills.
This session may also introduce early strategies—such as grounding, paced breathing, or basic mindfulness—to provide immediate support while planning longer-term skill development.
What Happens in Subsequent Appointments
Subsequent Appointments focus on learning and practising DBT-informed skills and applying them to real situations. Sessions may include reviewing difficult moments, identifying what happened step-by-step, and practising alternative coping responses that reduce escalation and improve recovery.
Over time, many people experience improved emotional stability, stronger coping under pressure, and greater confidence in communication and boundaries. The pace of skills work is tailored to your needs and capacity.
How DBT Is Tailored
DBT-informed support is tailored to each person’s goals, stressors, and environment. Some clients focus primarily on emotion regulation and distress tolerance, while others prioritise interpersonal effectiveness and communication skills. Sessions are adapted to your pace, learning style, and the areas where change is most needed.
DBT skills can also be integrated with other evidence-based approaches, depending on what is clinically appropriate.
Booking and Pathways
DBT-informed support is delivered within HMCE’s Psychology appointments. It is not a separate booking option. Select the appointment type that matches your funding pathway and whether it is your first or a subsequent session.
- Private (Full Fee) — Psychology Initial or Subsequent
- Medicare Bulk Billed (where eligible)
- NDIS Psychology
- WorkCover
- ADF
Unsure which option to choose? Contact HMCE for guidance before booking.
