Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a structured, evidence-based psychotherapy originally developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan for the treatment of borderline personality disorder. It has since been validated for a range of conditions involving emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, self-harm, and chronic suicidal ideation.
DBT is built on a core dialectic: the integration of acceptance and change. Patients are fully accepted as they are — while simultaneously being supported to change the thoughts, behaviours, and emotional responses that are causing suffering.
DBT has the strongest evidence base for borderline personality disorder (BPD) — particularly where emotional instability, self-harm, suicidal behaviour, and relationship difficulties are prominent. It is also used for eating disorders, depression with chronic suicidal ideation, PTSD with significant emotional dysregulation, and substance use disorders with co-occurring emotional difficulties.
DBT is structured around four core skills modules:
Mindfulness — the foundation of DBT. The capacity to observe and describe one's experience without judgement, to act from awareness rather than reactivity. Mindfulness skills underpin all other DBT modules.
Distress tolerance — managing acute crisis situations without making them worse. Skills for surviving painful experiences without resorting to self-destructive behaviour.
Emotion regulation — understanding, labelling, and modulating intense emotional states; reducing vulnerability to dysregulation and increasing positive emotional experience.
Interpersonal effectiveness — maintaining relationships, setting appropriate limits, and achieving goals in interpersonal situations while preserving self-respect.
In standard DBT, individual therapy is combined with group skills training. At IsraClinic, the format is adapted to the private outpatient context — individual DBT therapy is the primary modality, with skills components integrated into individual sessions as clinically indicated.
DBT is conducted directly in English, Russian and Hebrew — without an interpreter. For patients with BPD or significant emotional dysregulation, working in one's own language is particularly important: the emotional precision required in DBT depends on direct communication.
DBT is delivered within an integrated clinical framework. Where pharmacotherapy is also involved, the DBT therapist and treating psychiatrist work in close coordination — medication management and psychotherapy must be carefully aligned in BPD presentations.
DBT may be combined with Schema Therapy in complex personality disorder presentations — where DBT provides behavioural stabilisation and schema-level work addresses deeper patterns at a subsequent stage of treatment.
All DBT at IsraClinic is delivered within the framework of the Psychoergonomic Method — ensuring the approach accounts for this specific patient's presentation, history, and clinical needs.
DBT is most clearly indicated when emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, self-harm, or chronic suicidality are central presenting features — regardless of the primary diagnosis. It is particularly appropriate for borderline personality disorder, and for eating disorders, depression, and substance use presentations where emotional regulation difficulties are prominent.
DBT requires sustained engagement and willingness to work actively on skills between sessions. The treating team will assess whether DBT is the appropriate modality for each individual patient.
IsraClinic accepts patients for in-person consultation in Tel Aviv and online, in English, Russian and Hebrew. No referral is required.
Clinical Programme Curator: Valery Kravitz | IsraClinic | Last reviewed: 2026
DBT offers a structured path forward for some of the most painful and complex emotional experiences. If you would like to discuss whether DBT is right for your situation, our team is available in English, Russian and Hebrew.