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When emotions feel impossible to manage

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Across The North East

An evidence-based approach that teaches practical skills in mindfulness, distress tolerance, and emotion regulation for people who experience emotions intensely.

  • 44 Practitioners
  • 6 North East clinics
  • Free First Pathway call

How it works

For emotions that arrive fast and stay long.

Some people experience emotions more intensely than others, and take longer to return to a calm baseline after becoming distressed. DBT is built around this recognition, working with how your nervous system responds and building practical skills to manage it more effectively.

DBT is structured around four skill modules: mindfulness, which builds present-moment awareness; distress tolerance, which teaches ways to survive a crisis without making things worse; emotion regulation, which helps reduce the intensity and duration of difficult emotions; and interpersonal effectiveness, which supports clearer communication and healthier relationships.

Treatment typically combines individual therapy sessions with structured skills work. In individual sessions, you apply the skills to real situations from your own life. The approach is collaborative and reviewed regularly, with the goal of building a life that feels genuinely worth living.

Therapist working with a client in a DBT session

What DBT can help with

More than just BPD.

  • Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

  • Emotional dysregulation and intense mood swings

  • Self-harm and suicidal thinking

  • Complex and developmental trauma

  • Eating disorders

  • Anxiety and chronic distress

  • Relationship difficulties and interpersonal conflict

  • Depression that has not responded to other treatments

How Select routes the work

The right DBT therapist, matched with care

Our Pathway Team takes the time to understand what you're going through before matching you with a practitioner who has the right Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) expertise, experience, and availability. The right fit helps you build practical skills and get the most from your therapy.

  1. 01

    A confidential first discussion

    The Pathway Team listens to what is happening and matches you to the right practitioner. Your therapist then agrees a personalised plan with you.

  2. 02

    Matched to a DBT specialist

    Select routes you to an HCPC registered clinical psychologist with intensive DBT training and relevant experience, at your preferred clinic or online.

  3. 03

    Structured, skills-based sessions

    Work combines individual therapy with practical skills teaching, reviewed regularly so the work stays aligned with what you need.

Practitioner fit

DBT matched to your specific needs.

DBT at Select Psychology is delivered by HCPC registered clinical psychologists with intensive specialist training. The first conversation is about understanding what you are carrying and finding the right practitioner for where you are starting from.

What the first conversation explores

  • The nature and duration of your emotional difficulties
  • Location, online preference, and session timing
  • Any risk or safeguarding considerations
  • Which practitioner's experience and style is the right match

A simple first move

Not sure where to start? Talk it through with the Pathway Team.

Request a callback

Who you might work with

Practitioners who offer this

Browse the full team, or let the Pathway Team match you.

Where we offer this

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) across the North East

Select Psychology Tynemouth clinic

Tynemouth

1 Tynemouth Road, NE30 4AY

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Select Psychology Newcastle clinic

Newcastle

The Grainger Suite, Dobson House, Regent Centre, NE3 3PF

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Also available all locations.

Explore related care

Conditions, clinics and related therapies

Conditions this helps with

Related therapies

Fees and insurance

Clear fees, and most major insurers accepted

No GP referral is needed. If you are using private medical insurance, tell the Pathway Team when you get in touch and they will help with authorisation.

Session fees

  • Relationship therapy£95
  • Specialist psychological therapy£110
  • Clinical & counselling psychology£140
  • Psychological assessmentsfrom £350
Insurers accepted

Bupa · Aviva · AXA · Allianz · Simply Health · Vita Health Group

Questions before you start

What people usually ask

1 What is Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)?

DBT is a specialised form of cognitive behavioural therapy developed by Dr Marsha Linehan. It was originally designed for Borderline Personality Disorder but is now used for a wide range of difficulties involving emotional dysregulation. The word 'dialectical' refers to the core balance DBT teaches: accepting yourself and your experiences as they are, while also working to change the patterns that are causing harm. DBT is structured and skills-based, combining individual therapy with practical skills teaching.

2 What conditions does DBT work best for?

DBT has the strongest evidence base for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), but is also used for complex trauma, eating disorders, self-harm, chronic suicidal thinking, and difficulties with emotional dysregulation more broadly. It can be helpful for anyone who experiences emotions very intensely, struggles to recover quickly from distressing situations, or finds relationships difficult to maintain.

3 How is DBT different from CBT?

CBT focuses primarily on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns. DBT builds on this but adds a strong emphasis on acceptance, distress tolerance, and interpersonal skills. DBT also places greater weight on the therapeutic relationship and on validating the intensity of a person's emotional experience before moving towards change. It is generally more structured and longer in duration than standard CBT.

4 How long does a course of DBT take?

A full DBT programme, which combines individual therapy with group-based skills training, typically runs for six to twelve months. At Select Psychology, we offer DBT-informed individual therapy: work that draws on DBT principles and skill modules within a one-to-one format. Your practitioner will agree a realistic plan with you at the outset, and progress is reviewed regularly throughout.

From the blog

Read more before you decide

How Long Does EMDR Take to Work? Effects & Recovery

EMDR therapy typically takes 6 to 12 sessions for a single traumatic event (such as a car accident) and 12 or more sessions for complex or repeated trauma. Each session lasts 60 to 90 minutes, usually once a week. Many people notice significant improvement within the first 3 to 4 sessions. Post-session effects like tiredness or vivid dreams are normal and usually settle within 1 to 3 days. EMDR is recommended by NICE as a first-line treatment for PTSD and is as effective as trauma-focused CBT.

Select Psychology Team · 23 Mar 2026 · 6 min read

Read article

What Happens in a CBT Session? A Step-by-Step Guide

A CBT session typically starts with a brief check-in, followed by a discussion about your current challenges, thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Your therapist will help you identify unhelpful thinking patterns, develop practical coping strategies, and set a small action plan to practise between sessions. Most CBT sessions last around 50 minutes and are focused on helping you achieve specific mental health goals.

Select Psychology Team · 23 Jan 2026

Read article

Get in touch

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Leave your details and a member of our Pathway Team will be in touch, usually within one working day. Or call us directly on 0191 258 0008.

  • Confidential and judgement-free
  • No obligation, no pressure to book
  • No GP referral needed
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