A treatment program designed to help you build a life worth living.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) was developed by psychologist Dr. Marsha Linehan at the University of Washington. It was originally created to treat individuals struggling with parasuicidal behaviours, self-harm, and intense emotional dysregulation. Over time, DBT has proven effective for a wide range of challenges faced by adults, youth, and families—including suicidal thoughts and behaviours, substance use, trauma, anxiety, and depression.

Foundational DBT brings together three core elements: dialectics, behavioural psychology, and mindfulness.

• Dialectics teaches that two opposing ideas can both hold truth and be brought into balance. This approach helps people move away from rigid, black-and-white thinking that often fuels emotional and interpersonal difficulties.

• Behavioural psychology focuses on the idea that behaviour is shaped by its consequences. DBT helps clients examine their behaviour patterns, identify the reinforcers that keep those patterns in place, and develop more effective strategies for change.

• Mindfulness, drawn from Buddhist practice, supports clients in observing their thoughts and emotions without being overwhelmed by them. Through mindfulness, individuals learn to access what DBT calls Wise Mind, a state of balance between reason and emotion that promotes grounded decision-making and emotional stability.

An effective DBT program weaves these concepts into practical, learnable skills, empowering people to build a life they experience as meaningful and worth living.