Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based treatment that teaches practical skills for managing intense emotions, improving relationships, and tolerating distress. Originally developed for individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD), DBT combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness practices to help you build a life worth living.

How do I know if DBT therapy is right for me?

DBT can be particularly helpful if you struggle with intense emotions, impulsive behaviors, or relationship difficulties. It's especially effective for people who feel like their emotions are in the driver's seat or who want practical tools alongside deeper therapeutic work. During your free consultation, we'll help you determine if DBT aligns with your goals and needs.

Who should not do DBT therapy?

DBT may not be the best fit if you're currently experiencing active psychosis, severe cognitive impairments, or aren't ready to engage in skills practice between sessions. If you’re not sure whether DBT is right for you, we encourage you to schedule a free consultation so we can offer our professional recommendation.

Is DBT therapy covered by health insurance?

Yes, DBT therapy is often covered by insurance, though exact coverage varies based on your specific plan and provider. While our practice does not directly bill insurance, we can provide superbills for potential out-of-network reimbursement. We recommend contacting your insurance company to understand your specific coverage, deductibles, and reimbursement rates for out-of-network mental health services.

Do you offer DBT skills groups?

Currently, we do not offer DBT skills groups. Our approach is to integrate DBT skills directly into individual therapy sessions, tailored specifically to your unique needs and circumstances. This allows for deeper personalization and the flexibility to combine DBT with other therapeutic modalities that support your growth and healing.

6 Highly Recommended Los Angeles DBT (Dialectical Behavior) Therapists

If you’re struggling with emotional overwhelm, relationship struggles, or patterns that keep you feeling stuck, know that you’re not alone, and therapy can help.

At Therapy Collective of California, our DBT-trained therapists understand what it takes to break through these challenges and build the life you're reaching for—one that feels balanced, authentic, and deeply connected. Meet our team here—along with some other local resources—to find the right fit and contact us when you’re ready to begin.

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Best for DBT therapy for personality disorders: Samantha Potthoff, LMFT
Best for DBT therapy for addiction: Claire Summers, LCSW
Best for DBT therapy for relationship issues: Klara Knypinski, LCSW
Best for DBT therapy for children: SoCalDBT
Best for DBT therapy skills groups: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Los Angeles
Best for intensive DBT therapy: Camden Center

Meet our DBT therapists

Samantha Potthoff, LMFT

Best for DBT therapy for personality disorders

Samantha combines DBT with a personalized, integrative approach that addresses both immediate symptom relief and deeper patterns. Drawing from her background in neuroscience and medicine, she helps clients develop mindfulness and emotion regulation skills while exploring the underlying roots of distress for sustainable, meaningful change.

Credentials: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist 119290
Location: Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Virtual therapy: Yes

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Claire Summers, LCSW

Best for DBT therapy for addiction

Claire brings specialized training in DBT to help clients build distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. With a compassionate, holistic approach that integrates mindfulness and somatic interventions, she supports individuals navigating anxiety, addiction recovery, and life transitions with practical tools and deep understanding.

Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker 120898
Location: Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Virtual therapy: Yes, in addition to in-person

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Klara Knypinski, LCSW

Best for DBT therapy for relationship issues

Klara integrates DBT skills with a nuanced understanding of how family dynamics and cultural influences shape our emotional patterns. She specializes in helping high-achieving individuals break free from perfectionism and people-pleasing behaviors through practical, experiential exercises that foster authentic self-expression and healthier relationships.

Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Location: Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Virtual therapy: Yes

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Other recommended DBT therapy providers in Los Angeles

Depending on your needs and goals, we recognize that there may be some situations where you’d be better served by a different provider. That’s why we’ve featured some other local DBT resources here. Our goal is to help you find the care you’re looking for, even if that means working with a different practice.

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SoCalDBT

Best for DBT therapy for children

If you’re looking for DBT therapy for a young child, we recommend SoCalDBT. They have a comprehensive pre-adolescent program for children ages 6-12 that involves the child’s parents (and sometimes their siblings) to help the entire family support progress in the program and at home.

Credentials: Various
Location: Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Virtual therapy: Yes, in addition to in-person

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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Los Angeles

Best for DBT therapy skills groups

While one-on-one DBT therapy can be incredibly helpful, many people also benefit from group support. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Los Angeles is a local practice that offers several DBT skills groups, so if you’re looking for structured support alongside other people with similar challenges, we recommend reaching out to their practice.

Credentials: Various
Location: Los Angeles, CA 90025, Pasadena, CA 91101, & Glendale, CA 91203
Virtual therapy: Yes, in addition to in-person

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Camden Center

Best for intensive DBT therapy

Depending on your circumstances and how intense your symptoms are, we may recommend a higher level of care before engaging in outpatient therapy sessions. Camden Center offers several options for those who need more support than we can offer, including supportive living and intensive day treatment programs.

Credentials: Various
Location: Los Angeles, CA 90025
Virtual therapy: Services are primarily in-person

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What sets us apart from other dialectical behavioral therapy providers in LA

At Therapy Collective of California, we go beyond traditional, rigid DBT protocols to offer a truly personalized healing experience. We believe that real transformation happens when you feel seen, challenged, and deeply supported—and that's exactly what we create in every session.

Integrative approach: We blend DBT with psychodynamic therapy, IFS, ERP, and somatic techniques for comprehensive care.
In-person availability: Our Beverly Hills office provides a safe, professional space for deep therapeutic work.
Attachment-informed care: We understand how early relational patterns shape current struggles and address them with compassion.
Specialization with high-performers: We work extensively with lawyers, doctors, executives, and business owners navigating unique pressures.
Trauma-informed practice: All our therapists are trained to recognize and work sensitively with trauma's impact on emotion regulation.
Real, collaborative relationships: We're fully present, transparent, and attuned to you—no cold, clinical therapists here.

Our practice is built on the belief that healing requires both clinical expertise and genuine human connection. We're here to help you understand the roots of your struggles and create lasting change through a relationship that honors your full humanity.

What DBT therapy can help with

Feeling emotionally overwhelmed or like your emotions control you
Struggling with intense anxiety that interferes with work, relationships, or daily functioning
Difficulty managing conflict or communicating your needs without shutting down or exploding
Patterns of self-sabotage in relationships—pushing people away or clinging too tightly
Chronic feelings of emptiness, loneliness, or disconnection from yourself and others
Impulsive behaviors you regret—overspending, substance use, binge eating, or risky choices
Difficulty tolerating distress without turning to unhealthy coping mechanisms
Feeling like you're constantly overworking and over-functioning, but still not satisfied
Struggling to be vulnerable or truly connect in intimate relationships
Living in constant stress without tools to calm your nervous system and find balance

What to expect from the therapy process

Step 1. Initial consultation & assessment

Step 2. Building your personalized treatment plan

Step 3. Learning & practicing core skills

Step 4. Deepening insight & creating lasting change

We begin with a free consultation to understand your unique challenges, goals, and what brings you to therapy. This is also your opportunity to get a feel for our approach and ask any questions about how DBT can support your specific needs.

Together, we'll identify the most pressing areas to address and develop a tailored plan that integrates DBT skills with other therapeutic approaches. Your treatment is designed around your life, not a rigid protocol

You'll learn practical DBT skills in four key areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. These tools become part of your daily life, helping you respond to challenges with greater clarity and confidence.

As you develop new skills, we'll explore the deeper patterns and beliefs that have kept you stuck. This work creates sustainable transformation—not just symptom management, but genuine shifts in how you relate to yourself and others.

FAQs about dialectical behavioral therapy

Start working with a Los Angeles DBT therapist today

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