DBT Therapy in Melbourne for Managing Strong Emotions

Solace Psychology offers individual DBT therapy in Melbourne, shaped around your goals and your life. Our care is trauma-informed, culturally sensitive and LGBTQIA+ inclusive.

AHPRA-registered clinicians
Evidence-based therapeutic approaches
Confidential, judgement-free care
In-person and telehealth appointments

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A Focused Approach to DBT Therapy in Melbourne

We use dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) skills in one-to-one sessions. Your plan is built around your goals and your life. We don’t run skills groups or phone coaching.

Individual Therapy

Our sessions give you a private space to look at your emotional patterns. You practise skills and apply them to what is happening now in your life. How long this takes depends on your needs and your readiness for change.

Mindfulness Skills

Mindfulness means noticing your thoughts, feelings and body cues before you react. That pause can be the difference between maintaining an unhelpful pattern and carving out a new one.

Distress Tolerance Skills

These skills can help you get through intense stress when a problem can’t be fixed straight away. We are not an emergency service; these skills can help you survive intense emotions whilst minimising any harm or unintended consequences.

Emotion Regulation Skills

You learn to name your emotions and understand what drives them. From there, you can choose responses that better suit your needs.

Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills

This work involves learning communication skills so you can speak clearly, set boundaries and say what you need in a relationship. Your psychologist in Melbourne works through it with you and adapts it to your situation.

What Is Dialectical Behaviour Therapy?

DBT is a type of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). It balances accepting what you feel now with practical steps for change.

People often look at DBT when emotions feel intense or hard to manage. It is a therapy designed for long-term persistent emotional and relationship patterns that are keeping us stuck.

DBT and Borderline Personality Disorder

DBT was first developed for people with borderline personality disorder; however, it is a transdiagnostic therapy used in part or as a full modality to treat a range of chronic difficulties. At Solace, we use DBT skills for helping identify and manage emotions, challenge and shift negative thought patterns, address unhelpful behaviours and to recurring relationship concerns.

A Borderline Personality diagnosis needs a full assessment with a qualified clinician. If you have questions about a diagnosis, speak with your GP or another qualified clinician.

DBT Compared With CBT

CBT looks at how your thoughts, feelings and actions connect. DBT adds more focus on acceptance, skills practice and survival skills for intense emotions.

Your psychologist may also draw on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) or Schema Therapy. Which approach fits depends on what you want to work on.

What Happens During Your Appointment?

Psychologist guiding a client through a workbook exercise during an individual therapy session.

We run about 50-minute sessions. You and your psychologist agree on how often to meet.

You talk through what is going on for you right now. You look for patterns and practise evidence-based skills to manage those patterns differently. Then you plan how to use the skill in your life outside therapy. That could be in a recurring argument, a stressful workday or a tense social moment.

A Therapy Built Around You

Your plan reflects your priorities and your life. Your psychologist can talk with you about whether DBT fits, or whether another approach suits your goals more closely.

Practising Skills Between Sessions

You may agree to try a skill in everyday situations. At your next session, you talk about what helped and what was hard. Practice is collaborative; we problem-solve together and adapt.

Enquire About Individual DBT-Informed Therapy

Why Choose Solace Psychology?

Compassionate, Evidence-Based Care

Our experienced, compassionate team of psychologists draws on CBT, ACT, EMDR, Schema Therapy and DBT.

Trauma-Informed and Inclusive Practice

Our care is culturally sensitive, respectful and LGBTQIA+ inclusive.

Help Finding the Right Fit

Our Client Support team can answer your questions and help match you with a psychologist.

Flexible Access

You can see us in Carlton North, Coburg or Kew East, or online.

Supportive Environment

Your sessions are confidential, and you can talk openly without judgement.

Care Information and Service Transparency

Solace Psychology is a private practice. Our clinicians are registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). No referral is required to enquire or book. Our team can talk you through current fees, possible rebates and appointment availability.

How to Start Therapy

Send an enquiry: Contact us and tell us briefly what support you want.
Talk through your options: Our Client Support team answers practical questions and can help match you with a psychologist.
Attend a first appointment: You talk about your concerns and goals, and whether DBT skills suit you.
Build your plan: You and your psychologist choose the skills and priorities to work on.

Ask Our Team About Appointments and Psychologist Matching

FAQs

Is DBT Therapy in Melbourne Suitable for Me?

DBT therapy may suit people seeking practical support with intense emotions, impulsive reactions, distress or relationship difficulties. An initial appointment allows your clinician to explore your goals and assess whether this approach fits your needs.

What Happens During Therapy?

Sessions may involve understanding present challenges and practising mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation or interpersonal effectiveness. This is not automatically a comprehensive programme that does group skills training or phone coaching.

How Do I Begin Support With Solace Psychology?

Contact Solace Psychology and share the type of support you are seeking. Our team can discuss clinician matching, appointment options, fees, potential rebates and current availability.

Book Your Appointment Today

If you are looking for DBT therapy in Melbourne that’s focused on your specific needs, contact Solace Psychology to enquire about an appointment.

Before booking, ask the team to confirm clinician experience relevant to your concerns, whether this therapy is suitable for you, current fees and rebates, appointment availability, and the service format offered.

Contact Us

Routine therapy enquiries are not an emergency service. If you need urgent help or are in immediate danger, contact emergency services or an appropriate crisis support service.