Mental Health
Using DBT to Manage Anxiety
Discover how DBT for anxiety offers a compassionate path to emotional balance, helping individuals manage intense feelings and build lasting recovery skills.
What is DBT, and how is it different from CBT?
DBT, or Dialectical Behavior Therapy, combines acceptance with change strategies. Unlike CBT, which mainly targets distorted thinking, DBT teaches mindfulness, emotion regulation, and coping skills. It’s ideal for people who struggle with intense emotions, helping them respond more effectively rather than react impulsively.
Is DBT effective for anxiety disorders?
Yes—DBT is proven effective for anxiety disorders, especially when traditional therapy hasn’t worked. It reduces symptoms by improving emotion control, building distress tolerance, and promoting mindfulness. These skills help people with chronic or intense anxiety feel more stable and in control of their emotions.
Can DBT help someone with anxiety and a substance use disorder?
Yes, DBT is highly effective for individuals with dual diagnoses. It improves distress tolerance and emotional regulation, thereby reducing the risk of relapse. By teaching healthier coping mechanisms, DBT supports both anxiety management and recovery from substance use disorders in a structured, supportive way.
How long does DBT treatment for anxiety typically take?
DBT for anxiety usually takes six months to a year. It includes weekly individual sessions, group skills training, and coaching support. This extended format gives time to learn, practice, and reinforce skills, making DBT highly effective for long-term anxiety and emotional regulation.
What DBT skills are most useful for panic attacks?
For panic attacks, distress tolerance and mindfulness are most helpful. Skills such as paced breathing, grounding techniques, and radical acceptance can help reduce fear and physical symptoms. These tools help you stay present and prevent escalation when anxiety peaks suddenly.
Struggling with anxiety can feel isolating, especially when it’s tied to addiction or other mental health challenges. At The Edge Treatment Center, we understand how difficult this journey can be. That’s why we use DBT for anxiety as part of our compassionate, evidence-based care.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) helps you manage overwhelming emotions, reduce anxiety, and build healthier coping skills. Whether you're seeking help for yourself or someone you care about, our personalized treatment plans are designed to support lasting recovery and emotional balance, guiding you toward a life free from the weight of anxiety and addiction.
Why DBT Matters in Anxiety & Addiction Treatment
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a proven, evidence-based approach that helps individuals manage intense emotions and reduce anxiety, especially when traditional therapies have fallen short. At The Edge Treatment Center, we integrate DBT into our programs to support clients facing anxiety, addiction, or both.
The Four Core Modules of DBT
Mindfulness Helps you stay present and aware, reducing racing thoughts and emotional overwhelm.
Distress Tolerance Teaches safe, effective ways to handle crises without resorting to harmful behaviors.
Emotion Regulation Builds the ability to recognize, understand, and influence emotional responses before they spiral.
Interpersonal Effectiveness Enhances communication skills and helps maintain healthy, respectful relationships.
Why It Works for Anxiety
Research shows DBT can significantly reduce symptoms of generalized anxiety, panic attacks, and social anxiety. It teaches clients to respond thoughtfully, rather than react impulsively, helping them manage fear and tension more effectively.
DBT Vs. CBT: Understanding the Key Differences
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are both evidence-based therapies widely used to treat mental health and substance use disorders. While they share some core principles, their approaches and goals differ significantly.
CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors. It is structured, goal-oriented, and problem-focused, helping individuals recognize cognitive distortions and develop healthier thinking and coping strategies. CBT is often used to treat depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction.
DBT, a modified form of CBT, was initially developed for individuals with borderline personality disorder but is now widely applied to treat emotional dysregulation, self-harm, and chronic suicidal ideation.
DBT incorporates mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Unlike CBT’s direct problem-solving approach, DBT strikes a balance between acceptance and change, helping clients accept their current reality while working toward behavioral improvements.
Another key difference is structure: CBT is typically delivered in individual therapy sessions, while DBT often includes individual therapy, group skills training, and phone coaching for real-time support.
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What DBT Looks Like at The Edge
At The Edge Treatment Center, we understand that effective treatment begins with a personalized approach. That’s why our DBT-informed programs are designed to meet your individual needs, especially if you’re dealing with anxiety, addiction, or trauma. We don’t just apply DBT as a standard model; we adapt it to support your specific challenges and recovery goals.
Personalized Treatment Plans
Your journey with us begins with a comprehensive assessment to create a DBT-informed treatment plan tailored to your individual needs and experiences. Whether you're struggling with anxiety alone or in combination with substance use, our clinical team ensures you receive the right level of support, structure, and care.
Individual Therapy & Group Skills Training
You’ll participate in weekly individual therapy sessions where your therapist helps you apply DBT skills directly to your challenges. These sessions create a safe space for deeper emotional processing and customized skill development.
Additionally, our group skills training sessions cover the four foundational DBT modules: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. These sessions foster peer connection and offer opportunities to practice new coping strategies in real-time.
24/7 Coaching Support
Recovery doesn’t happen only during sessions. That’s why we offer 24/7 coaching support, giving you access to professional guidance when challenges arise between appointments. Whether you’re overwhelmed or triggered, you’ll never have to face it alone.
Trauma-Informed and Addiction-Focused
Every element of our DBT program is integrated with trauma-informed care and addiction recovery strategies. We help you understand and address the emotional roots of your anxiety and substance use so that you can move forward with strength and clarity.
Core DBT Skills for Anxiety Relief
At The Edge Treatment Center, we teach DBT skills that empower you to respond to anxiety with clarity, confidence, and compassion. These skills are practical, easy to apply, and deeply transformative when practiced consistently. Here’s how each core DBT module supports anxiety relief, especially in the context of addiction or recovery.
Mindfulness: Grounding Through Present Awareness
Anxiety often pulls you into future fears or past regrets. Mindfulness brings you back to the present. We teach you how to observe your thoughts and emotions without judgment, using breathing exercises, grounding techniques, and moment-to-moment awareness. This skill is the foundation of DBT—it helps you pause, reflect, and regain control instead of reacting automatically to anxious thoughts.
Distress Tolerance: Surviving the Storm Without Self-Destruction
When anxiety peaks, it can feel unbearable. Distress tolerance skills help you navigate those challenging moments safely. We’ll show you techniques like cold-water exposure, distraction, and self-soothing strategies that allow you to endure anxiety without turning to substances or harmful behaviors. These tools are essential in early recovery, when emotional discomfort is especially intense.
Emotion Regulation: Reducing Vulnerability to Anxiety
Emotion regulation helps you understand and influence your emotional patterns. You'll learn how to recognize what triggers your anxiety, reduce your emotional vulnerability (through sleep, nutrition, and exercise), and apply techniques to calm yourself before the anxiety takes over. This skill promotes long-term emotional balance and stability.
Interpersonal Effectiveness: Connecting Without Conflict
Anxiety often affects how you relate to others. Interpersonal effectiveness skills strengthen your ability to set boundaries, express needs, and manage conflict without fear or avoidance. These tools are especially helpful in recovery, where healthy relationships can significantly impact your progress.
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What to Expect Visiting The Edge
When you arrive at The Edge Treatment Center, your path to healing begins with care and clarity. We focus on understanding your unique challenges and building a personalized plan that supports long-term recovery from anxiety, addiction, or both.
Comprehensive Assessment and Goal Setting
Your journey starts with a thorough assessment to understand your mental health history, substance use patterns, and personal goals. This enables our clinical team to develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. Together, we’ll outline your short- and long-term goals to guide your recovery process.
Treatment Duration and Structure
Our DBT-informed programs typically last six months or more, providing the time and support needed to create lasting change. You’ll participate in a combination of therapies—including individual DBT sessions, group skills training, and optional medication management—designed to target both anxiety symptoms and addictive behaviors.
Family Involvement and Holistic Support
We offer optional family involvement to help strengthen support systems outside of treatment. Family therapy and education sessions can improve understanding, rebuild trust, and promote healing within relationships.
A Safe Space for Dual Diagnosis Recovery
The Edge is a dual diagnosis treatment center, meaning we’re equipped to treat both mental health conditions and substance use disorders at the same time. Our environment is safe, structured, and compassionate—designed to support you every step of the way.
Struggling with Anxiety? DBT Can Help—And So Can We
If anxiety is disrupting your life or fueling substance use, DBT for anxiety offers a powerful, compassionate path to healing. At The Edge Treatment Center, we specialize in helping individuals regain emotional balance and break free from the cycle of anxiety and addiction.
With personalized, DBT-informed care, we’ll guide you through each step of recovery in a safe, supportive environment. You don’t have to face this alone. Reach out to The Edge today—let’s work together to build a calmer, more confident future.
We’re Here To Help You Find Your Way
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, there is hope. Our team can guide you on your journey to recovery. Call us today.
Written by
The Edge Treatment Center
Reviewed by
Jeremy ArztChief Clinical Officer
Mental Health
September 23, 2025
