DBT Therapy Boca Raton: Dialectical Behavior Therapy in Boca Raton, FL
Looking for DBT therapy in Boca Raton? You’ve come to a place where support is focused on helping you feel more in control. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) can help you manage intense emotions, reduce harmful patterns, and build healthier relationships. At The Renew Center of Florida, Dr. Lisa Palmer offers DBT for adults and teens in Boca Raton, with secure, HIPAA-compliant virtual DBT therapy across Florida.
What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), also spelled dialectical behaviour therapy, is an evidence-based talk therapy that teaches you to accept your emotions while changing the behaviors that hurt you. It is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy built around four sets of practical skills: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
DBT was first designed for people whose emotions feel too big, too fast, and too hard to control. Today, therapists use it for many conditions, from self-harm and borderline personality disorder to eating disorders, trauma, and substance use.
Who Can DBT Help?
DBT helps adults and teens whose emotions feel out of control and whose ways of coping are causing harm. At The Renew Center of Florida, DBT therapy in Boca Raton and online focuses on four main areas. DBT does not "cure" a diagnosis, but it gives you skills that reduce suffering and make change possible.
Trauma and PTSD
Trauma can leave you flooded by memories, on edge, or numb. DBT skills give you a stable base first, so painful memories feel safer to face. A version called DBT Prolonged Exposure (DBT-PE) was designed specifically for PTSD. Dr. Palmer often combines DBT skills with trauma therapy in Boca Raton.
Intense Emotions & Borderline Personality Disorder
DBT was first built for borderline personality disorder (BPD), and it remains the best-studied therapy for it. It also helps anyone with emotional dysregulation, meaning emotions that rise fast, run hot, and take a long time to settle. You may notice sudden anger, mood swings, or relationships that feel unstable. DBT teaches you to pause and respond in a way that matches your goals.
Suicidal Thoughts and Self-Harm
DBT has some of the strongest research support of any therapy for reducing suicide attempts and self-harm, in both adults and teens aged 12 to 18. It teaches safer ways to get through painful moments without acting on harmful urges. For teens, DBT for Adolescents (DBT-A) also involves a parent or caregiver, since many of the hardest moments happen at home.
Eating Disorders and Substance Use
Bingeing, purging, and substance use are often ways to escape emotions that feel unbearable. DBT treats the emotions underneath the behavior. It is used for eating disorders and substance use, and it teaches healthier ways to cope with cravings and urges. Eating disorders are one of Dr. Palmer's specialties, so DBT is woven into a complete recovery plan.
In-Person DBT Therapy in Boca Raton and Online DBT Therapy Across Florida
Living with emotions that feel stronger than you are can be exhausting, but it does not have to stay that way. With DBT therapy in Boca Raton, Dr. Palmer helps you build practical skills that hold up in the moments when you need them most, whether that is a heated conversation, a wave of panic, or an urge you are trying to resist.
You can meet with Dr. Palmer in person at The Renew Center of Florida, a private office that welcomes adults and teens from Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Deerfield Beach, Boynton Beach, Highland Beach, and the surrounding communities. If traveling to the office is not practical, we also provide online DBT therapy to clients anywhere in Florida through a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform. Both options follow the same approach and offer the same level of care, so you can choose the one that best fits your schedule and comfort.
Frequently Asked Questions About DBT:
What is DBT therapy used for?
DBT is used to help people manage intense emotions and stop harmful behaviors. It was first built for borderline personality disorder and chronic suicidal behavior. Today it also helps with self-harm, eating disorders, substance use, PTSD, and mood swings. It works best when emotions feel too strong to control and other therapy has not been enough.
How long does DBT take?
Standard comprehensive DBT usually lasts about 12 months. One full cycle of the four skills modules takes about 24 weeks, and teen programs often run 16 to 24 weeks. DBT-informed therapy varies with your goals. Many people notice they are using new skills within the first few weeks, even though lasting change takes longer.
Is DBT available online in Florida?
Yes. Dr. Palmer offers online DBT to anyone who is physically in Florida during their session. Sessions run on a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform. Online DBT uses the same skills and structure as in-person care, so it works well if you live outside Boca Raton or have a busy schedule.
Is DBT good for teenagers?
Yes. DBT for Adolescents (DBT-A) is one of the best-studied treatments for teens with self-harm and suicidal behavior. A 2018 trial in JAMA Psychiatry found DBT reduced suicide attempts and self-harm in teens aged 12 to 18. Parents usually take part and learn the same skills, which helps the whole family communicate better.
What are the four DBT skills?
The four DBT skills modules are mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Mindfulness helps you stay present. Distress tolerance helps you survive a crisis. Emotion regulation helps you reduce painful emotions. Interpersonal effectiveness helps you ask for what you need. Teen programs add a fifth module, Walking the Middle Path.
What is the difference between DBT and CBT?
CBT mainly focuses on changing unhelpful thoughts, while DBT balances acceptance with change. DBT grew out of CBT and adds mindfulness and skills for handling intense emotions and crises. CBT often suits focused anxiety or depression. DBT often suits people whose emotions feel overwhelming or who struggle with self-harm or unstable relationships.
What happens in the first DBT session with Dr. Palmer?
Your first DBT therapy session, in Boca Raton or online, focuses on getting to know you and agreeing on goals. Dr. Palmer asks about your history, current struggles, and what you want your life to look like. She explains how DBT works, answers your questions, and introduces diary cards. You leave with a clear plan and often your first skill to practice.
Meet Our DBT Therapist In Boca Raton, Florida
Dr. Lisa Palmer, PhD, LMFT, is the founder of The Renew Center of Florida. She is a psychotherapist, licensed marriage and family therapist, and DBT therapist in Boca Raton who treats eating disorders, trauma, mood instability, relationship problems, and co-occurring issues.
PhD, Nova Southeastern University, Florida
LMFT, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Florida
CHT, Certified Hypnotherapist
CRRTT, Certified Rapid Resolution Therapy Therapist
Featured mental health expert on CBS, NBC, and CNN
Clients come to Dr. Palmer from across Florida and beyond because she combines clinical depth with a warm, direct style. Her approach focuses on healing root causes, not just managing symptoms.
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Dr. Lisa Palmer
LMFT, CHT, CRRTT, PhD · America's Leading Celebrity Psychotherapist · 20+ Years of Experience
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