North Texas DBT Associates is a Comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) practice in Dallas, Texas. We offer DBT therapy for adults in person at our Dallas office and by secure telehealth anywhere in Texas, and DBT for Children (DBT-C) for children ages 7 to 12.
Our clinical team is led by Courtney Hicks, MS, LMFT-Supervisor, DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified Clinician, one of 570 DBT-LBC Certified Clinicians worldwide, and one of 13 in Texas, as of October 2026 (DBT-LBC directory).
If you are looking for DBT therapy near you in Dallas, Fort Worth or anywhere in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, you can see us at 4040 N. Central Expressway, Suite 670, Dallas, TX 75204. Clients elsewhere in Texas, from Houston and Austin to San Antonio and El Paso, meet their therapist by telehealth.
At North Texas DBT Associates, we are focused on providing evidence-based treatment. We have amassed a list of journal articles, included below, which we think will be helpful in providing more insight into the efficacy of DBT and what to look for in a DBT provider to ensure that you are getting access to the safest and most effective care available for your needs. Please reach out to us by clicking the button below if you would like to learn more.
Evidence-Based Treatment for Trauma, Self-Harm, and Emotional Dysregulation
The North Texas DBT Associates team provides Comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to individuals across Texas through in-person and secure telehealth sessions. If you are searching for effective DBT therapy in Texas, especially for concerns like self-harm, suicidal ideation, or trauma, our program is designed to deliver the most evidence-based care available.
For shift workers and anyone who cannot attend daytime appointments, individual DBT sessions are also available through after-hours telehealth therapy in the late night and early morning.
Where we offer DBT therapy in Texas
In person in Dallas. Our office is at 4040 N. Central Expressway, Suite 670, Dallas, TX 75204, close to Uptown and easy to reach from across Dallas-Fort Worth. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
By telehealth across Texas. Adults anywhere in Texas can take part in our Comprehensive DBT program by secure telehealth, including individual therapy and the skills training group. Shift workers can also book individual sessions late at night or early in the morning through our after-hours telehealth therapy. Adults in Florida can join by telehealth too: see DBT therapy in Florida.
See every city we serve on Areas We Serve, or request an intake and we will help you choose the format that fits.
What is DBT?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a structured and research-supported treatment model originally developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan for individuals struggling with chronic emotional pain and self-destructive behaviors. It is now widely used to treat a range of serious conditions, including:
- Borderline personality disorder. The condition DBT was first built for, with the most trials behind it (Linehan et al., 2006; Cochrane review, 2020).
- Suicidal ideation and self-injury. DBT reduced suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in Linehan’s 2015 trial, and a meta-analysis of 18 controlled trials found it reduced self-harm, suicidal behavior and the use of crisis services (Linehan et al., 2015; DeCou et al., 2019).
- Complex trauma and PTSD. Including DBT with the Prolonged Exposure protocol and DBT-PTSD for survivors of childhood abuse (Harned et al., 2014; Bohus et al., 2020).
- Emotion dysregulation. DBT skills reduced emotion dysregulation in adults with anxiety or depression (Neacsiu et al., 2014).
- Anxiety. In the same pilot trial, DBT skills training reduced anxiety more than a support group (Neacsiu et al., 2014).
- Depression. Including depression in older adults and depression that has not responded to medication (Lynch et al., 2003; Harley et al., 2008).
- Binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa (Telch et al., 2001; Safer et al., 2001; Safer et al., 2010).
- Substance use alongside borderline personality disorder (Linehan et al., 1999; Linehan et al., 2002).
- ADHD in adults. DBT-based skills groups improved ADHD symptoms in randomized trials (Hirvikoski et al., 2011; Halmøy et al., 2022).
The strength of the evidence varies. Some of these findings come from large randomized trials and others from smaller pilot studies, and your assessment is where we look at what fits you.
BUT… Does DBT Actually Help?
Unlike traditional therapy models, DBT is explicitly designed to address life-threatening behaviors and emotional dysregulation by balancing two key principles: acceptance and change. Clients learn to manage overwhelming emotions and make lasting behavioral changes through skills-based training and personalized support.
Standard DBT, or Comprehensive DBT, is DBT that includes structured weekly individual sessions with a diary card, weekly group skills classes, access to between session phone coaching support, and treatment by a provider who is on a weekly DBT Consult Team. For an exhaustive list of Peer-Reviewed Randomized Control Trials (RCT’s) on the Efficacy of Standard DBT. look here: https://behavioraltech.org/evidence/
DBT for Suicidal Ideation, Self-Harm, and Trauma
At North Texas DBT Associates, we specialize in DBT for suicidal ideation, DBT for self-harm, and DBT for trauma. These are areas where traditional therapies like general talk therapy often fall short, especially when clients are navigating multiple risk factors or have not found relief through other treatments.
Comprehensive DBT provides a unique set of tools for managing thoughts of suicide or self-injury. Skills in distress tolerance, mindfulness, and emotion regulation help clients break the cycle of emotional pain and impulsive behavior, without judgment or shame.
DBT when conducted alongside DBT Prolonged Exposure Protocol for PTSD (DBT-PE) is also one of the most effective therapeutic approaches for individuals with trauma histories, especially those with complex PTSD or emotional dysregulation stemming from invalidating or abusive environments.
What is Comprehensive DBT?
While many clinicians offer “DBT-informed therapy,” this is not the same as Comprehensive DBT. A DBT-informed approach may integrate a few principles or coping skills from the DBT model, but often leaves out critical elements necessary for real, lasting progress.
At North Texas DBT Associates, we follow the full Comprehensive DBT protocol, which includes:
- Weekly individual sessions with a DBT-trained therapist
- Weekly DBT skills training groups
- 24/7 phone coaching for skills use in real life
- Weekly therapist consultation teams to ensure fidelity and quality of care
This full-model approach ensures that clients receive the support, structure, and skill-building required to create meaningful, long-term change. In a 2015 trial led by Linehan, standard DBT with both individual therapy and the skills group had lower dropout than individual therapy without the group, 24% against 48% (Linehan et al., 2015).
DBT-Informed vs Comprehensive DBT: What’s the Difference?
Understanding the difference between DBT-informed vs Comprehensive DBT is vital for anyone seeking treatment. DBT-informed therapy may use worksheets, coping skills, or one-off mindfulness strategies, but without the full program, clients often don’t get the structure or crisis support needed to address life-threatening behaviors or high-risk symptoms.
In contrast, Comprehensive DBT has been shown to reduce suicidal behavior, self-harming actions, and psychiatric hospitalizations significantly more than treatment-as-usual or other therapy models. According to a 2006 randomized controlled trial published in Archives of General Psychiatry, participants receiving full-model DBT had fewer suicide attempts, fewer hospital stays, and greater improvements in functioning than those receiving standard treatment.
Wondering whether a DBT-informed, group-only placement could fit you? Read about our DBT-informed treatment, or contact us to request an intake and talk it through.
Who Benefits from DBT?
Our program is ideal for people who:
- Feel emotionally overwhelmed or unable to manage intense feelings
- Are experiencing suicidal ideation or urges to self-harm
- Have lived through complex trauma or abuse
- Have tried therapy before but haven’t found lasting benefit
- Have been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder
We also provide DBT for children and families who are navigating high-risk behaviors and emotional crises at home.
Why Choose North Texas DBT Associates?
- We deliver DBT therapy in person in Dallas and by secure telehealth across Texas and Florida
- Every client in our Comprehensive DBT program is treated by a clinician who meets with our DBT consultation team every week
- Our practice follows the treatment model with strict adherence and fidelity
- We serve adults across Texas and Florida, and children ages 7 to 12 and their families in Texas through DBT-C
Contact Us to Start Creating a Life Worth Living
If you’re seeking effective borderline personality disorder treatment or need support for suicidal ideation, self-harm, or trauma, we encourage you to explore Comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) with us. When undertaken with full fidelity, DBT offers a powerful path toward healing and a life worth living.
Contact us today to learn more about our in-person and telehealth DBT programs across Texas.
Questions about DBT therapy in Dallas and Texas
Do you offer DBT therapy near me?
If you live in Dallas-Fort Worth, you can see us in person at our Dallas office at 4040 N. Central Expressway, Suite 670. Anywhere else in Texas, you can do DBT with us by secure telehealth.
Can I do DBT therapy online in Texas?
Yes. Adults anywhere in Texas can take part in our Comprehensive DBT program by telehealth, including weekly individual therapy and the skills training group.
What is included in Comprehensive DBT?
Four parts that work together: weekly individual DBT therapy, a weekly DBT skills training group, DBT phone coaching between sessions, and a therapist consultation team that meets every week.
How much does DBT therapy cost?
Session fees range from $165 to $275, depending on the clinician and session length. Households with incomes below $100,000 a year may be considered for sliding scale fees, based on availability. See our fees for details.
How do I start DBT?
Call (817) 214-7200 or send us a message. We will arrange a full intake and assessment and talk through whether Comprehensive DBT, DBT-informed treatment or another level of care fits you.
Research about DBT: What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)?
Find a general overview of the treatment on the Behavioral Tech website. Behavioral Tech is an institute started by Dr. Linehan herself that is dedicated to the training of DBT providers as well as supporting and disseminating research on DBT. This link will take you to their own explanation of what the pieces are that should be present for DBT to be an evidence-based treatment: https://behavioraltech.org/dialectical-behavior-therapy-dbt/
You can review a list of RCT’s by topic below:
What is Standard or Comprehensive DBT?
*The Original Study Conducted by Dr. Linehan in 1991: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/21311206_Cognitive-Behavioral_Treatment_of_Chronically_Parasuicidal_Borderline_Patients
*Linehan’s Follow Up Two Year Randomized Control Trial (RCT) Comparing DBT to Treatment by Experts in Suicidal Behaviors (2006): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16818865/
*DBT and Women with BPD in The Netherlands (2018): https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/dialectical-behaviour-therapy-for-women-with-borderline-personality-disorder/B18DBB959BC4613E920EA330E1625E5F
*DBT and MDD with Co-Occurring BPD in Women over 55 Vs. Medication-Only: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/gps.1703
*DBT and Individuals with BPD traits and History of Suicide Attempts and Nonsuicidal Self-Injury (2012): https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2012-16938-001
*DBT and Recent Self-Harm (2012): https://karger.com/pps/article/81/6/356/282694/Effectiveness-and-Cost-Effectiveness-of
*DBT and Substance Use Disorders Compared to Treatment As Usual (TAU) (2010): https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/105504999305686
*DBT and Female Veterans with BPD (2001): https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0005789401800095
*A Meta-Analysis of Treatments for Individuals with BPD (2020): https://www.cochrane.org/CD005652/BEHAV_psychological-therapies-borderline-personality-disorder
What is DBT for Children? (DBT-C)
*An Overview of DBT-C (2020): https://www.childdbt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Overview-of-DBT-C-primary-targets_in-DBT-in-Clinical-Practice-2020-1.pdf
*DBT-C for Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD): https://www.childdbt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/DBT-C-for-DMDD_JAACAP-2017-1.pdf
**For more information on DBT-C and its efficacy, please visit the DBT-C website: https://www.childdbt.com/child-dbt-research-on-dbt-c/
What is DBT Prolonged Exposure Protocol for PTSD? (DBT-PE)
*Standard DBT vs DBT-PE for PTSD (2014): https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0005796714000151
*Preliminary Evaluation of the Efficacy of DBT-PE (2012): https://link.springer.com/epdf/10.1007/s10597-018-0358-1?author_access_token=ENPfs1TxMQ-ccl7wW3DnFve4RwlQNchNByi7wbcMAY6C02LpQIPliViHfiktSkRqMy-p6xlrZJt9WbSyeQ1q295lWB9wmNX3qDQLfdBQLsDAeBC5QmSv2Tkal2ceNVOOVY-ykbVgzai0LXkFh5o8sg==
*Treatment Preferences Among Suicidal and Self-Harming Women (2013): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4075754/
*Perspectives on Stage-Based Treatment Among DBT Consumers (2018): https://link.springer.com/epdf/10.1007/s10597-018-0358-1?author_access_token=ENPfs1TxMQ-ccl7wW3DnFve4RwlQNchNByi7wbcMAY6C02LpQIPliViHfiktSkRqMy-p6xlrZJt9WbSyeQ1q295lWB9wmNX3qDQLfdBQLsDAeBC5QmSv2Tkal2ceNVOOVY-ykbVgzai0LXkFh5o8sg==
*For more information on DBT-PE and its efficacy, please visit the DBT-PE website: https://dbtpe.org/research
What is DBT-PTSD for Complex PTSD?
*DBT-PTSD for Co-Occurring BPD and PTSD in Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse (2013): https://karger.com/pps/article-abstract/82/4/221/282823/Dialectical-Behaviour-Therapy-for-Post-traumatic