Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is one of the most well-researched and effective forms of psychotherapy available today, yet misconceptions about it remain surprisingly common. Whether you are exploring treatment options for yourself or trying to understand a loved one’s care, having accurate information matters. Below we address seven of the most widespread myths about DBT and explain what the evidence actually shows.
Myth 1: DBT Is Only for Borderline Personality Disorder
While Dr. Marsha Linehan originally developed DBT to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD), decades of research have since demonstrated its effectiveness for a much broader range of conditions. DBT has strong evidence supporting its use for depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, substance use disorders, PTSD, and emotion dysregulation in general. At Front Range Treatment Center, we work with clients facing a wide variety of challenges — you do not need a BPD diagnosis to benefit from DBT.
Myth 2: DBT Is Just About Learning to Cope
Skills training is a major component of DBT, but the treatment is far more than a list of coping techniques. Comprehensive DBT includes weekly individual therapy where you and your therapist work on the specific issues driving your suffering. It also includes phone coaching for real-time support and a therapist consultation team that helps your treatment providers stay effective and motivated. The skills you learn in group — mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness — are integrated into every part of this larger treatment framework.
Myth 3: DBT Skills Group Is Like Group Therapy
Many people feel anxious about the group component of DBT because they imagine sitting in a circle sharing deeply personal stories. In reality, DBT skills group functions more like a classroom. The group leader teaches a specific skill, the group practices it together, and members share homework from the previous week. You are not expected to disclose your personal history or discuss the details of your struggles in front of others. The personal work happens in your individual therapy sessions.
Myth 4: DBT Tells You to Just Accept Everything
The word “dialectical” in DBT refers to the balance between acceptance and change. DBT does not ask you to passively accept a painful situation and do nothing about it. Instead, it teaches radical acceptance — acknowledging reality as it is in this moment — while simultaneously working to change the things that need changing. This balance is at the heart of DBT and is what makes the treatment so effective. You learn to stop fighting reality in ways that increase your suffering and redirect that energy toward meaningful change.
Myth 5: DBT Takes Too Long and Requires Too Much Time
It is true that comprehensive DBT asks for a meaningful time commitment — typically one individual session and one skills group per week, plus homework practice. However, this structure exists because it works. Research consistently shows that the combination of individual therapy and skills training produces better outcomes than either one alone. Many clients begin noticing real changes within the first few months, and a standard course of treatment is typically six months to one year. Compared to years of cycling through less effective treatments, DBT often saves time in the long run.
Myth 6: Any Therapist Who Uses DBT Skills Is Doing DBT
There is an important difference between comprehensive DBT and “DBT-informed” therapy. Many therapists incorporate a few DBT techniques into their practice, but comprehensive DBT is a structured program with specific requirements: individual therapy, skills group, phone coaching, and a therapist consultation team. When looking for a DBT provider, it helps to ask whether they offer all four components. Front Range Treatment Center is a DBT-Linehan Board of Certification Certified program, which means our program has been independently verified to meet the standards set by the treatment’s developer.
Myth 7: DBT Is Not Evidence-Based
DBT is one of the most extensively studied psychotherapies in existence. It has been evaluated in dozens of randomized controlled trials — the gold standard of clinical research — across multiple countries and populations. Studies have consistently shown that DBT reduces self-harm, suicidal behavior, depression, and hospitalizations while improving quality of life and emotional well-being. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recognizes DBT as an evidence-based practice, and it is recommended in treatment guidelines worldwide.
The Bottom Line
Misinformation about DBT can prevent people from accessing a treatment that might genuinely change their lives. If you or someone you care about is struggling with intense emotions, difficult relationships, or behaviors that feel out of control, DBT may be worth exploring. Front Range Treatment Center offers comprehensive, certified DBT for adults, teens, and children in the Denver metro area. Contact us at (720) 390-6932 to schedule a free consultation and learn whether DBT is right for you.