DBT Therapists in London UK and Online
Mind-Reframed brings together independent, experienced Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) therapists who work collaboratively as a specialist team to provide comprehensive DBT in London and online across the UK.
Since 2015, we have supported hundreds of people experiencing difficulties with intense emotions, relationships, impulsivity, self-harm, trauma, dissociation, anxiety, chronic shame and feelings of emptiness.
Our clinicians have extensive experience working with people diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD), also known as emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD), as well as complex PTSD and other difficulties involving emotion regulation. We also regularly work with neurodivergent clients, including people with ADHD and autism.
While diagnoses can sometimes help people understand their experiences and access appropriate support, our work is not defined by labels. We want to understand the person, the experiences that have shaped them, the difficulties they are facing now and the changes they would like to make.
An experienced specialist DBT team
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy was developed by psychologist Dr Marsha Linehan as a comprehensive treatment for people experiencing severe difficulties regulating emotions and associated patterns such as self-harm and suicidal behaviour.
Our team has undertaken specialist DBT training with recognised training providers connected with the development and dissemination of the original DBT model. Many members of our team have also completed postgraduate study in DBT at Bangor University.
Our clinicians bring between 8 and 20 years of clinical experience, including substantial experience within specialist NHS services working with people experiencing complex emotional and relational difficulties and those diagnosed with BPD/EUPD.
Our training and experience include:
- Intensive training in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy approved by the Linehan Institute Behavioral Tech
- Postgraduate DBT training for many members of the team
- Experience within specialist NHS personality disorder and complex-needs services
- Training in trauma-informed approaches and treatments for complex PTSD
- Regular specialist DBT supervision
- DBT adherence assessment and feedback from senior DBT clinicians
- Weekly participation in our DBT Consultation Team
You can learn more about the professional background, qualifications and training of individual clinicians on our About us page.
Comprehensive Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
DBT is more than a collection of coping skills or a weekly therapy session.
The treatment originally developed by Marsha Linehan is a comprehensive programme involving several interconnected components.
At Mind-Reframed, our comprehensive DBT programme includes:
Individual DBT therapy
Weekly one-to-one sessions help you understand patterns in your emotions and behaviour, identify what gets in the way of the life you want to build and practise applying DBT strategies to the situations that matter to you.
DBT skills training
Weekly skills groups teach practical strategies across the core areas of mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness.
Phone skills coaching
Between sessions, coaching helps you practise using DBT skills when difficult situations arise in everyday life.
DBT Consultation Team
Our DBT therapists meet every week as a consultation team. This is an important part of comprehensive DBT and supports therapists in delivering the treatment effectively and consistently.
Together, these components provide considerably more support than DBT-informed individual therapy or a standalone skills course.
DBT for BPD, emotional dysregulation and complex difficulties
DBT was originally developed for people experiencing persistent suicidal behaviour and difficulties associated with borderline personality disorder.
Today, DBT principles and skills are used more widely for people who experience difficulties such as:
- rapidly changing or overwhelming emotions
- impulsive behaviours
- self-harm
- suicidal thoughts or behaviours
- intense or unstable relationships
- difficulty managing anger
- chronic feelings of emptiness or shame
- dissociation
- anxiety and emotional overwhelm
- difficulties associated with traumatic experiences
We also work with people who experience these difficulties alongside ADHD, autism or other forms of neurodivergence.
Not everyone who comes to us has a diagnosis of BPD or EUPD. Assessment helps us understand your individual difficulties and consider whether DBT is likely to be the most appropriate form of support for you.
Trauma-informed DBT
Many people who come to DBT have experienced trauma, attachment difficulties, invalidating environments or relationships in which their emotional experiences were not adequately understood or supported.
Our team therefore works from a trauma-informed perspective alongside our grounding in standard DBT.
Several members of the team have undertaken additional training in approaches for complex post-traumatic stress, including adaptations of DBT developed specifically for complex PTSD.
Trauma-informed practice does not mean immediately focusing therapy on traumatic memories. In DBT, we first work to develop greater stability, safety and the skills needed to manage difficult emotions effectively. Where appropriate, trauma-focused work can then be considered as part of a carefully planned treatment.
How do I know whether a therapist is properly trained in DBT?
The term “DBT” is used quite broadly within mental health services, and programmes can differ substantially. A therapist may use individual DBT skills without providing comprehensive Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. Similarly, a DBT skills group is only one component of the full treatment model.
Please note that DBT was designed as a team-based treatment rather than an approach delivered by practitioners working in isolation. When looking for DBT support, it is important not to assume that a service provides the comprehensive four-part DBT programme, or that a therapist has completed intensive DBT training, simply because DBT features prominently in how the service is described. You can, and should, ask questions about a provider’s training, experience and programme structure to ensure that the DBT support you are considering is appropriately delivered and meets your needs.
If you are looking for comprehensive DBT, useful questions to ask a provider include:
- Has the therapist completed intensive DBT training?
- Does the service provide both individual DBT and DBT skills training?
- Is phone skills coaching available between sessions?
- Do the therapists participate in a regular DBT Consultation Team?
- Did the team members receive expert DBT supervision?
- How much experience does the clinician have working with the difficulties for which you are seeking help?
These questions can help you understand whether a service provides comprehensive DBT, DBT-informed therapy or DBT skills training alone.
Our DBT Consultation Team
DBT was designed as a team-based treatment rather than a therapy delivered by practitioners working entirely in isolation.
Mind-Reframed operates a dedicated DBT Consultation Team. Our therapists meet weekly to reflect on treatment, maintain adherence to DBT principles and support one another in providing effective therapy.
Members of our team have also received specialist DBT supervision. This has included reviewing recorded therapy sessions and assessing them for adherence to the DBT model, helping clinicians identify where their practice follows the treatment closely and where it can be strengthened.
This ongoing consultation and supervision is an important part of maintaining the quality of our DBT programme.
DBT in London and online
Mind-Reframed provides in-person DBT in London as well as online DBT across the UK.
Our London DBT skills groups are based near King’s Cross and Islington, with individual therapy available at London locations and online.
For people who cannot attend in person, our online programme provides access to DBT skills training and comprehensive DBT without needing to travel to London.
Find out whether DBT could be right for you
If you are considering Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, an initial assessment gives us an opportunity to understand what you are experiencing, what you would like to change and whether DBT is likely to be an appropriate treatment for you.
You can learn more about our Comprehensive DBT Programme in London, our Online DBT Programme at DBT Programme section, or contact Mind-Reframed to arrange an initial assessment.