Therapy we offer
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) in Cherry Hill, NJ
A proven, skills-based therapy for when emotions feel too big to manage, offered in person and online across New Jersey.
- Evidence-based therapy
- Acceptance and change
- Practical life skills
- In person or virtual
Licensed by the State of New Jersey
LegitScript Certified
Joint Commission Accredited
What is DBT?
Accept where you are, build where you want to go
Dialectical behavior therapy was developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan. It blends the change-focused tools of CBT with acceptance and mindfulness. "Dialectical" means holding two ideas at once: accepting yourself as you are, while working to change.
DBT teaches practical skills in four areas to help you manage intense emotions, handle crises and improve relationships. Research shows it reduces self-harm and suicidal behavior. At Jersey Behavioral Health, DBT skills are a core part of our PHP, IOP and Virtual IOP.
A steadier response when emotions run high
A difficult conversation at home in Voorhees or a stressful workday in Cherry Hill can be a chance to practice a different response. DBT skills focus on getting through distress without making things worse, asking for what you need, and balancing acceptance with change.
Ask how skills practice fits into our Cherry Hill Intensive Outpatient Program. DBT-informed groups are not necessarily a comprehensive DBT program, which also has specific individual therapy and coaching components. Your care team can explain the current format.
DBT by the numbers
- 23.1%
- of U.S. adults, about 59.3 million people, lived with a mental illness in 2022. [1]
- Half
- as likely to attempt suicide: 23.1% with DBT versus 46.0% with expert community therapy over two years. [2]
- 18
- controlled trials pooled in a meta-analysis showing DBT reduces self-harm and crisis service use. [3]
- 4
- core skill areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness. [4]
The four DBT skill areas
Mindfulness
Notice thoughts and feelings in the present moment without judging them.
Distress tolerance
Get through a crisis without making it worse, using skills like self-soothing and grounding.
Emotion regulation
Understand your emotions, lower your vulnerability to them and change the ones you want to change.
Interpersonal effectiveness
Ask for what you need, set boundaries and keep healthy relationships.
Finding balance
Hold acceptance and change together: you are doing your best, and you can do better.
Every plan is personal.
You'll build coping skills, emotional regulation and relapse prevention strategies.
What DBT looks like in treatment
Skills groups and therapy sessions follow a clear structure, so you always know what you are working on.
Check in
Review your week, including urges, emotions and skills you used.
Focus on what matters most
Start with safety, then work on what gets in the way of treatment and of a good life.
Learn a skill
Practice a new skill from one of the four areas in a supportive group setting.
Plan practice
Choose a skill to try in real life before the next session.
Clinically reviewed
- Reviewed by Mark Sigmund, MA, LPC, CCDP, Clinical Director
- Based on peer-reviewed research and national guidelines
- Delivered by licensed New Jersey clinicians
- Sources listed at the bottom of this page
Where we offer DBT
DBT skills are part of our Partial Hospitalization Program, Intensive Outpatient Program and Virtual IOP, at our Cherry Hill office or by secure telehealth anywhere in New Jersey.
856-856-4499Conditions we treat
What DBT can help with
Self-harm and suicidal thoughts
DBT was built to put safety first.
Borderline personality disorder
The condition DBT was first developed to treat.
Depression
Build skills that lift mood and reduce hopelessness.
PTSD and trauma
Manage overwhelming emotions and reactions.
Substance use
Cope with urges and cravings in healthier ways.
Anxiety and emotional overwhelm
Stay steady when feelings run high.
Common DBT skills
Woven through both group and individual sessions.
Wise mind
Balance emotion and logic to make clearer choices.
TIPP skills
Quickly calm intense emotions through the body.
Opposite action
Act opposite to an unhelpful emotional urge.
DEAR MAN
A simple guide for asking for what you need.
Insurance we work with
We work with most major plans, including Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Horizon BCBSNJ, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare and Optum. We'll verify your benefits for free, usually the same day.
- Horizon BCBSNJ
- Humana
- Magellan
- Beacon
- Compsych
- Health Net
- Independence Administrators
- Carefirst
Getting started
- 1
Reach out
Contact our Admissions Team 24/7 or fill out a brief online form to verify insurance and begin the process.
- 2
Complete a pre-screen
We'll assess your needs and match you with a personalized treatment plan developed by licensed professionals.
- 3
Start healing
Schedule your initial intake evaluation and meet your treatment team, often within 24 hours of reaching out.
Frequently asked questions
What is dialectical behavior therapy?
DBT is a skills-based therapy, originally developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan, that combines change strategies from CBT with acceptance and mindfulness. It helps people manage intense emotions and build a life that feels worth living.
How is DBT different from CBT?
DBT grows out of CBT but adds a strong focus on acceptance, validation and mindfulness. It is especially helpful when emotions feel overwhelming or hard to control.
Is DBT effective?
Yes. In a two-year randomized trial, people in DBT were half as likely to attempt suicide as those in expert community therapy, and an 18-trial meta-analysis found DBT reduces self-harm and the need for crisis services.
Is DBT only for borderline personality disorder?
No. DBT was first developed for borderline personality disorder, and it is now used for depression, self-harm, trauma, eating disorders, substance use and other conditions involving intense emotions.
Where do you offer DBT?
DBT skills are part of our Partial Hospitalization Program, Intensive Outpatient Program and Virtual IOP, in Cherry Hill and by secure telehealth across New Jersey.
Does insurance cover DBT?
Many plans cover DBT as part of mental health treatment. Our team can verify your benefits for free.
Sources
- [1] National Institute of Mental Health. Mental Illness statistics. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness
- [2] Linehan MM, Comtois KA, Murray AM, et al. Two-Year Randomized Controlled Trial and Follow-up of Dialectical Behavior Therapy vs Therapy by Experts for Suicidal Behaviors and Borderline Personality Disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 2006. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16818865/
- [3] DeCou CR, Comtois KA, Landes SJ. Dialectical Behavior Therapy Is Effective for the Treatment of Suicidal Behavior: A Meta-Analysis. Behavior Therapy, 2019. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30661567/
- [4] Linehan MM. DBT Skills Training Manual, Second Edition. Guilford Press, 2014. https://www.guilford.com/books/DBT-Skills-Training-Manual/Marsha-Linehan/9781462516995
Treatment can be life changing. Reach out today.
We'll verify your benefits for free and schedule a confidential assessment.
In crisis? Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or dial 911.
Clinically reviewed by Mark Sigmund, MA, LPC, CCDP, Clinical Director. This page is for information only and is not medical advice.
Jersey Behavioral Health · 1930 Marlton Pike East, Suite O-75, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
Serving Cherry Hill and South Jersey
Our Cherry Hill office is an easy drive from towns across Camden, Burlington and Gloucester counties, and our virtual IOP is open to adults anywhere in New Jersey. Clients come to us from:
- Cherry Hill, NJ
- Haddonfield, NJ
- Voorhees, NJ
- Collingswood, NJ
- Camden, NJ
- Pennsauken, NJ
- Gloucester Township, NJ
- Marlton, NJ
- Mount Laurel, NJ
- Moorestown, NJ
- Medford, NJ
- Evesham, NJ
- Washington Township, NJ
- Deptford, NJ
- Sewell, NJ