Why We Use DBT to Support Adult Mental Health

Life can feel overwhelming — DBT helps you find your way through

Many adults live with emotional pain that isn’t always visible. Maybe you’ve been feeling stuck in patterns you can’t seem to break. Maybe intense emotions, relationship struggles, or constant self-criticism are making everyday life harder than it needs to be. Maybe you’ve tried other treatments, but still feel like you’re fighting an uphill battle.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a structured, compassionate, and research-backed approach that offers real, practical skills for real-life challenges. And most importantly, it offers hope.

What Makes This DBT Group Unique

Not all DBT groups are created equal. Here’s what sets this program apart:

Accessible, Online Format

The DBT group is fully online, which means:

  • No travel, no traffic, no parking stress

  • You can join from anywhere—whether you're in a city or a remote area

  • It removes one of the biggest barriers to treatment: leaving the house when you're depressed or anxious

For many people living with treatment-resistant depression, even getting out of bed can be a struggle. Being able to access support from the comfort of your own space can make all the difference.

Led by a Specialist Psychiatrist

This group isn’t run by a coach or facilitator with limited experience.

It’s led by me, Dr. Michelle King, a specialist psychiatrist with:

  • 18 years of clinical experience

  • Expertise in treatment-resistant depression, chronic pain, and DBT

  • A deep understanding of how medications, therapy, and life circumstances interact

You'll receive professional, high-level care that integrates real-world psychiatric insight with the practical, evidence-based skills of DBT.

Supportive, Skill-Based, and Real

This group is:

  • Structured, but not rigid

  • Compassionate, but not passive

  • Focused on giving you practical skills you can use right away—even on your worst days

I’m here to help you build a life worth living. At your pace. With real tools. Backed by real expertise.

What is DBT?

DBT is a form of therapy that helps people build a life that feels worth living. It blends strategies for change (like building new habits and letting go of harmful behaviours) with deep acceptance (acknowledging your experience without judgment). This unique balance allows for growth without shame — and that’s what makes it so powerful.

It was originally developed for individuals who felt emotions more intensely than others — people who often felt misunderstood or overwhelmed. Today, DBT is used with adults navigating a wide range of mental health struggles, including:

  • Anxiety and depression

  • Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD)

  • PTSD and complex trauma

  • Emotion dysregulation

  • Substance use

  • Disordered eating

  • Difficult relationships or impulsive behaviours

  • Chronic stress or burnout

Why DBT works

DBT isn’t just about talking — it’s about doing. It gives you a toolkit to:

  • Cope with distress without making things worse

  • Understand and manage your emotions more effectively

  • Communicate more clearly and set healthy boundaries

  • Take small, meaningful steps toward goals that matter to you

My approach is supportive, collaborative, and grounded in the belief that people are doing the best they can — and that they can learn new ways to thrive.

Who is DBT for?

You don’t need a specific diagnosis to benefit from DBT. If you’ve ever said things like:

“I feel too much.”
“I’m exhausted by my own emotions.”
“I don’t know how to fix this, but something needs to change.”

… then DBT might be a good fit for you. Whether you’re new to therapy or have been working on your mental health for years, DBT can offer a fresh perspective and a structured path forward.

You’re not broken — you’re human

At its heart, DBT is about learning to live with more intention, more skill, and more kindness toward yourself. It doesn’t promise perfection. It offers tools, support, and the space to grow at your own pace.

If you're ready to feel more in control of your emotions, improve your relationships, and build a life that feels more manageable and meaningful, DBT can help.

DBT SKILLS GROUP FOR  ADULTS

This group meets every Friday at 2pm via Zoom.

Our next module starts 8 August

This DBT skills group runs for 20 weeks. Sessions are carefully planned to equip you with the tools you need to manage stress, control emotions, and navigate relationships with confidence.

  • ✺

    Emotion regulation skills help you make sense of what you’re feeling and respond with intention instead of overwhelm. Instead of being swept away by intense moods or stuck in shame, these skills give you tools to name your emotions, understand where they come from, and choose how to respond. You’ll learn how to reduce emotional vulnerability, build habits that support emotional balance, and create more space between feeling something and acting on it. Over time, this means fewer emotional rollercoasters — and more stability, clarity, and self-trust in daily life.

  • ✺

    Distress tolerance skills are all about getting through tough moments without making things worse. When life feels overwhelming or emotions hit hard, it’s easy to fall into impulsive reactions — shutting down, lashing out, reaching for something to numb the pain. Distress tolerance offers practical ways to survive the storm: grounding techniques, self-soothing strategies, crisis tools, and new ways to ride out emotional waves. These skills don’t make pain disappear, but they help you face it with more resilience and less regret — so you can stay steady, even when life is anything but.

  • ✺

    Mindfulness skills help you slow down, tune in, and stay present — even when life feels chaotic. Instead of getting lost in worries about the future or regrets from the past, mindfulness teaches you to anchor yourself in the here and now, with curiosity and compassion. These skills help you notice what you’re feeling, thinking, and experiencing without immediately reacting or judging yourself. With practice, mindfulness builds awareness, clarity, and a sense of calm — creating space to respond thoughtfully rather than automatically. It’s the foundation for all other DBT skills, and a powerful way to reconnect with yourself.

  • ✺

    Interpersonal effectiveness skills help you build and maintain healthier, more respectful relationships — without losing sight of your own needs. Whether you struggle to speak up, avoid conflict at all costs, or find yourself swinging between people-pleasing and shutting down, these skills offer a middle path. You’ll learn how to ask for what you need, say no with confidence, set boundaries, and navigate tricky conversations — all while staying true to your values and strengthening your connections. These tools can transform how you relate to others and, just as importantly, how you relate to yourself.

  • ✺

    At the core of DBT is the belief that change is possible — and that your life can be worth living, even when it doesn’t feel that way right now. Through small, consistent behavior changes, DBT helps you move toward the kind of life you want: one with more purpose, connection, and stability. You’ll learn how to set meaningful goals, make values-aligned choices, and take action even when motivation is low. It’s not about perfection — it’s about progress, and about building a life that feels more like your own, one step at a time.

  • ✺

    For those struggling with emotional eating or other unhelpful coping behaviours, DBT offers powerful tools for long-term change and relapse prevention. Instead of relying on willpower alone, you’ll learn how to understand the emotional triggers behind urges, respond with skill instead of shame, and build new habits that actually support your well-being. DBT helps you notice early warning signs, manage setbacks without spiraling, and create a plan for staying on track — even when life gets hard. With time and practice, you can break free from cycles of guilt and regain trust in your ability to care for yourself in healthier, more compassionate ways.

✺ Frequently asked questions ✺

  • This depends on your medical aid, and plan, and whether or not you are seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist. Please contact the practice to find out.

  • Ideally you should join when we start a new group of skills, but if you can’t wait to start, you can join immediately.

  • The group follows a 20 week cycle, which costs R13860, including VAT

  • After receiving payment, you will be sent a Zoom link to join. We have a WhatsApp group where I share resources and “self work”. Please read the T’s and C’s.

  • Once you have contacted me, the practice will send you the bank details for an EFT.

  • No refunds are given, but you can join again later that year when you are ready.