Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in Seattle & Washington State
Equilibrium Therapy Group provides the “Gold Standard DBT”, a comprehensive, skills-based Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for adults and teens in Seattle and across Washington State. We provide individual DBT with phone coaching, DBT groups, and take part in weekly DBT consultation and supervision through NW DBT Seattle.
DBT is an evidence-based treatment designed to help individuals regulate emotions, improve relationships, reduce self-destructive behaviors, and build practical coping tools. It has been shown to be effective for personality disorders, mood instability, addiction, eating disorders, trauma-related symptoms, and chronic emotional dysregulation.
At its core, DBT balances two seemingly opposite forces: acceptance and change. Clients learn to validate their current experience while actively building skills to create meaningful behavioral change.
Mindfulness is central to DBT. The model teaches that opposites can coexist and be harmonized, helping clients reduce suffering while increasing agency and stability. If you’re looking for DBT in Seattle or West Seattle, our program provides comprehensive DBT with individual therapy, skills groups, and coaching.
You can learn more about DBT and its origins here.
Who DBT Is For
DBT may be appropriate for individuals who experience:
Intense or rapidly shifting emotions
Chronic anxiety or depression
Impulsive behaviors
Self-harm or suicidal thoughts
Relationship instability
Difficulty setting or maintaining boundaries
Emotional shutdown or overwhelm
Substance use concerns
Eating disorder behaviors
DBT helps clients build emotional regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness skills that translate directly into daily life.
The Four Core DBT Skill Modules
DBT skills groups follow a structured curriculum that includes four primary modules:
1. Core Mindfulness
Learning to observe, describe, and participate in the present moment without judgment.
2. Emotion Regulation
Understanding emotions, reducing vulnerability, and increasing emotional stability.
3. Interpersonal Effectiveness
Building assertiveness, boundary-setting, and relationship repair skills.
4. Distress Tolerance
Developing crisis survival strategies and tools for managing intense emotions without making situations worse.
Adult DBT Skills Group
About
Our Adult DBT Skills Group follows a structured six-month curriculum.
Each of the four core modules runs for six weeks, creating a comprehensive 24-week program.
Group members are required to:
Attend weekly sessions
Participate in weekly individual DBT therapy
Commit to consistent engagement
DBT works best when skills are practiced both inside and outside of session.
Adult Group Times
Mondays: 4:30pm – 6:00pm
Tuesdays: 1:30pm – 3:00pm (LGBTQIA+ group)
Tuesdays: 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Wednesdays: 1:30pm – 3:00pm
Adult Group Rates
$75 per session
Insurance not accepted
Monthly receipts provided for potential reimbursement
Sliding scale available when cost is a barrier
Participation requires concurrent weekly individual DBT therapy.
Teen DBT Skills Group
About
Our Teen DBT Skills Group is designed for middle and high school students navigating:
Anxiety
Depression
Emotional dysregulation
Risky or unsafe behaviors
Peer and family conflict
Teens complete the four core DBT modules plus an additional module:
Walking the Middle Path
This module focuses on:
Balancing acceptance and change
Understanding typical vs atypical adolescent behavior
Improving family communication
Strengthening parent–teen relationships
Parents or caregivers participate simultaneously in a separate room, learning the same DBT skills. This shared learning builds alignment, community, and support at home.
Teen Group Time
Tuesdays: 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Teen Group Rates
$100 per teen group session
$200 per family session (includes all caregivers; no additional charge per parent)
In-Person & Virtual DBT Options
In-Person (West Seattle)
3614 California Avenue SW
Seattle, WA 98116
Serving clients from West Seattle and the Greater Seattle Area.
Virtual (Washington State)
Secure telehealth DBT is available for clients across Washington State.
What Makes Our DBT Program Different
Many providers offer DBT-informed therapy.
Equilibrium Therapy Group offers structured, comprehensive DBT that includes:
Individual therapy integrated with weekly skills group
Therapist consultation team participation
Between-session phone coaching (when clinically appropriate)
DBT delivered within a relational, trauma-aware framework
Experiential DBT options — including Equine-Facilitated DBT
Equine-Facilitated DBT
We also offer DBT sessions with horses.
In Equine-Facilitated Dialectical Behavior Therapy, clients practice DBT skills in an experiential setting with immediate, real-time feedback from a trusted equine partner.
Horses teach important lessons in behavior — including human behavior. Through guided exercises, clients have the opportunity to witness and practice:
Behavior modification
Emotion regulation
Mindfulness
Interpersonal effectiveness
Distress tolerance
Patience and compassion
Practicing skills in an engaging, embodied way makes it more likely those skills transfer into daily life and relationships.
This experiential option differentiates our DBT program from traditional office-based models and provides an additional pathway for integration.
FAQs
Do you offer DBT sessions with horses?
Yes. We offer Equine-Facilitated Dialectical Behavior Therapy as an experiential option for clients who want to practice DBT skills outside of a traditional office setting.
How does equine DBT work?
In equine-facilitated DBT sessions, clients practice skills such as emotion regulation, mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance, and behavior modification with guidance from a licensed therapist. Horses provide immediate, nonverbal feedback that helps reinforce skill application in real time.
Do I need horse experience to participate in equine DBT?
No. No prior horse experience is required. Riding is optional and not necessary for therapeutic benefit.
Is equine DBT part of comprehensive DBT?
Equine sessions can complement comprehensive DBT, including individual therapy and skills group participation, and are offered when clinically appropriate.
How do I find a DBT therapist in the Greater Seattle Area?
When looking for a DBT therapist in Seattle, it’s important to confirm whether the provider offers comprehensive DBT, including individual therapy, skills group participation, and consultation support. At Equilibrium Therapy Group, we provide structured DBT services in the Greater Seattle Area and virtually across Washington State.