DBT was originally developed for borderline personality disorder, but it has since been applied to a much broader range of emotional and behavioral difficulties. People may seek DBT for emotional dysregulation, intense or rapidly changing emotions, impulsive behaviors, self-harm or suicidal behaviors, relationship difficulties, anxiety, depression, trauma-related difficulties, eating-related concerns, difficulty tolerating distress, or feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or out of control. An initial consultation can help determine whether DBT or another treatment approach may be appropriate.

Skills training is an important component of comprehensive DBT for many clients. However, treatment isn't identical for everyone. Your psychologist will recommend a treatment plan based on your individual needs, prior experience, and goals.

There isn't one treatment length that is right for everyone. For individuals experiencing multiple or long-standing problems related to emotional dysregulation, comprehensive DBT treatment often lasts approximately one year. Treatment length varies based on your needs, goals, progress, and clinical recommendations.

Treatment is individualized. Your psychologist will help identify the behaviors, emotions, relationships, or life circumstances causing the greatest difficulty and establish clear treatment goals. Rather than simply talking about problems, DBT emphasizes learning and practicing specific skills that can be applied outside of therapy.

Active participation matters. DBT works best when clients attend consistently, practice skills between sessions, communicate openly with their treatment team, and actively work toward their treatment goals. You don't need to arrive already knowing how to change—that's what treatment is designed to help you learn.

Supportive relationships are incredibly valuable, but therapy serves a different purpose. A psychologist brings specialized training in assessment, behavior change, emotional functioning, and evidence-based treatment. Therapy also provides a confidential environment focused specifically on understanding your concerns, developing new skills, and working toward clearly defined goals.

Medication can be very helpful for some mental health conditions, but medication and psychotherapy serve different purposes. For some people, medication works best alongside psychotherapy. Therapy can help you understand patterns, learn new skills, change behaviors, strengthen relationships, and develop strategies that continue to benefit you outside of sessions.

This depends on the circumstances. Having two individual therapists addressing the same concerns simultaneously can sometimes create confusion or interfere with coordinated treatment. For clients entering comprehensive DBT, your DBT psychologist will discuss whether temporarily pausing work with another individual therapist is appropriate. In some situations, another treatment may be provided alongside DBT when clinically appropriate.

Yes. DBT Center of Illinois provides specialized psychological services beyond traditional DBT, including Radically Open DBT (RO-DBT), Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), PEERS® for Teens, and Psychological Testing & Diagnostic Evaluations. Treatment recommendations are individualized based on each person's needs and goals.

Yes. We can provide appropriate documentation, often called a superbill, that you can submit to your insurance company when seeking reimbursement through your out-of-network benefits. Clients are responsible for submitting their own claims and communicating directly with their insurance company regarding reimbursement.

Ask whether you have out-of-network benefits for outpatient mental health services; your out-of-network deductible and how much has been met; the reimbursement percentage after the deductible; the allowable amount for applicable services; whether there is an annual session limit; whether prior authorization is required; and how to submit a superbill for reimbursement.

We do not offer a traditional sliding scale. However, our PhD training programs allow us to offer lower-rate treatment options for clients who may benefit from a more affordable level of care. Availability may vary, and our team can discuss current options with you during the consultation process.