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4.9 Google | Excellent
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy in Ireland
DBT teaches you how to live in the moment, build healthy stress coping mechanisms, regulate emotions, and improve interpersonal connections.
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Free 20 Min Consultation
No GP Referral needed
Appointments Available within 24 Hrs
80 Plus
All IACP Accredited
24 Hours
Average Wait Time
10,000+
Patients Helped
Accepted by leading Irish health insurers
EXCELLENT
4.9
Andrew Byrne
“Fettle has been amazing to work with. Professional, supportive, and genuinely focused on helping people. The team is responsive, caring and consistently goes above and beyond. Highly recommended.”
Keith Dooley
“I found the whole booking process really quick and straightforward, and the platform itself is very easy to use. Any questions I had were answered quickly, and everyone I dealt with was genuinely helpful. The therapists have all been excellent.”
kieran hughes
“Quick to book, easy to use, and really good therapists. Everything about this platform feels well-run and supportive. Love that it’s all Irish-based and focuses on proper accredited therapy. Five stars.”
Keith O Mahony
“I can’t say enough good things about my experience with Fettle. From the very first session, I felt supported and heard. The platform is user-friendly, and my therapist has been wonderful — empathetic, skilled, and genuinely invested in my progress.”
John Perry
“Without fettle I’d have never had access to the therapist I meet with due to our locations… I was matched with Rebecca Lock. She is an incredible therapist who has helped me time and time again.”
L Morley
“Very positive experience. Was very handy to be able to do from home.”
Tina A
“My Fettle counsellor Ken was open and non-judgemental. He allowed me to set the agenda and flow of communication. I gained insight on my issues and feel empowered to overcome them.”
Bronagh Cleary
“The whole experience was very professional, highly recommend”
Emma MacCarthy
“Excellent service, would recommend”
Laura Faughnan
“I’ve been using Fettle on and off now for 2 years. Thankfully Fettle paired me up with an excellent therapist based on the issues I said I would like to discuss and I’ve come a long way since then… I would recommend Fettle as they genuinely do their best to ensure people are matched with the right therapist.”
Understanding DBT Therapy
Learn how DBT can help you develop essential life skills through evidence-based, compassionate approaches.
Step 1
What is DBT?
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is an adapted form of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Its primary objectives are to teach people how to live in the moment, build healthy stress coping mechanisms, regulate emotions, and improve interpersonal connections.
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Step 2
The four DBT skill sets
DBT focuses on four key strategies: Core Mindfulness (living in the moment), Distress Tolerance (crisis management), Interpersonal Effectiveness (healthy relationships), and Emotional Regulation (managing intense feelings).
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Step 3
Finding your DBT therapist
Our matching process connects you with a therapist trained in DBT who understands your unique situation. You can let us match you based on your needs, preferences, and goals, or browse therapist profiles to find someone who resonates with you.
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Step 4
Is DBT right for you?
If you struggle with emotional regulation, have difficulty in relationships, engage in self-destructive behaviours, or have found other therapies ineffective, DBT may be the approach you need. It is especially effective for those who feel things intensely.
Real Stories
Hear from real people finding their path with Fettle.
Start Your DBT Journey
Choose the path that works best for you. All options include access to qualified, experienced DBT specialists.
100% Free
Free Consultation
Free20 minutes
Not sure where to start? Talk to us about your DBT symptoms, no pressure.
- 20 min discovery call
- Discuss your symptoms
- Learn about treatment options
- No obligation
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Match with DBT Specialist
Only€85/session
Get matched with a therapist who specialises in DBT and emotional regulation.
- DBT specialists only
- 95% match success rate
- Evidence-based treatment
- Flexible online sessions
Browse DBT Therapists
Only€85/session
Browse therapists who specialise in DBT and choose your own.
- Filter by DBT expertise
- Read full profiles
- View qualifications
- Book directly
Ready to start your DBT journey? Take the first step.
What can DBT therapy help with?
DBT teaches essential life skills through four key areas to help you build a life worth living.
You
My thoughts are always racing. I cannot seem to focus on the present moment at all.
Therapist
Mindfulness skills will help you slow down and focus on the present. Let us practice some techniques together.
Core Mindfulness
Mindfulness allows you to live in the moment by focusing on the present. When dealing with emotional discomfort, mindfulness skills help you slow down and adopt appropriate coping strategies. This technique assists in remaining calm and avoiding negative thought patterns.
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You
When I’m overwhelmed, I do things I regret. I don’t know how to cope in the moment.
Therapist
Distress tolerance skills will give you healthy ways to get through those intense moments without making things worse.
Distress Tolerance
Distress tolerance skills help you accept yourself and your current situation. DBT offers crisis management techniques including distraction, improving the situation, self-soothing, and weighing pros and cons. These tactics prepare you for strong emotions and equip you to cope long-term.
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You
My emotions are so intense. One minute I’m fine, the next I’m completely overwhelmed.
Therapist
That emotional intensity is something we can work with. I’ll teach you how to recognise, name, and manage those feelings.
Emotional Regulation
Emotion regulation allows you to deal with intense emotions more effectively. You will learn to recognise, name, and modify your feelings. This minimises emotional sensitivity and helps you have more pleasant emotional experiences when managing severe negative feelings like anger.
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You
I struggle to ask for what I need. I either stay quiet or end up pushing people away.
Therapist
Interpersonal effectiveness skills will help you communicate assertively while keeping your relationships intact.
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Interpersonal effectiveness enables you to be more assertive in relationships while maintaining healthy connections. You will improve your listening and communication skills, learn to express needs, set boundaries, and deal with difficult people while respecting yourself and others.
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You
I’ve been diagnosed with BPD and don’t know if therapy can really help someone like me.
Therapist
DBT was created specifically for BPD and has incredible success rates. Over 75% of people no longer meet the criteria after a year.
Conditions DBT Can Treat
DBT was created for BPD but is effective for many conditions including ADHD, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, generalised anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, and substance addiction. Research shows over 75% of people with BPD no longer meet diagnostic criteria after a year of DBT.
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Therapist
You have made wonderful progress with your skills. How are you feeling about handling difficult situations now?
You
So much better. I finally have tools that work. I can manage my emotions instead of them controlling me.
Get Ongoing Support
Your DBT journey is a marathon, not a sprint, not a destination. Your therapist will provide ongoing support, help you navigate setbacks, and celebrate your progress. Research shows long-term therapy creates lasting change.
Signs DBT could help you
DBT was designed for people who experience emotions intensely. These signs indicate you may benefit from DBT.
Emotional Dysregulation›
Relationship Difficulties›
Self-Destructive Behaviours›
Black and White Thinking›
Chronic Emptiness›
Fear of Abandonment›
Impulsivity›
Treatment Resistant›
Recognise these signs? DBT can help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about DBT therapy? We have answers.
DBT is an adapted form of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Its primary objectives are to teach people how to live in the moment, build healthy stress coping mechanisms, regulate their emotions, and improve their interpersonal connections. It was created by Dr. Marsha Linehan in the late 1980s.
DBT was created for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) but is also effective for ADHD, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, generalised anxiety disorder, major depression, OCD, PTSD, and substance addiction. Research shows over 75% of people with BPD no longer meet diagnostic criteria after a year of DBT.
Many people who seek DBT have had little success with conventional treatments. This is frequently because other therapy failed to address the skills impairments that caused their problems. DBT argues that understanding the causes of difficulties does not address the issue alone – you need practical skills to make changes.
DBT is more like a marathon than a sprint. It takes effort and patience to change habits. We are rewiring the brain connections in specific ways by teaching people to act and think differently. As DBT therapists, we do not anticipate significant changes until the therapy cycle is finished. Adult DBT programs typically last a year.
No! DBT is a recovery-oriented approach. This means we will do everything we can to help you construct a life that does not require you to be in DBT or any other therapy for the rest of your life. Most people who complete our program enjoy very fulfilling lives with far less suffering.
DBT focuses on four key skill sets: Core Mindfulness (living in the present moment), Distress Tolerance (crisis management and acceptance), Emotional Regulation (managing intense emotions effectively), and Interpersonal Effectiveness (building healthy relationships and communication).
DBT features can include group skills training, individual psychotherapy, and phone coaching. In sessions, you and your therapist work together to reconcile self-acceptance and change. The therapist validates your experiences while helping you make positive changes in behaviour and interactions with others.
Meet Our DBT Therapists
Click through to read a therapist’s bio or to book a session with them directly.
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What Can DBT Help With?
DBT was created to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD), but it has been adapted to treat various mental health conditions. It can help people who have difficulty controlling emotions or engage in self-destructive behaviours.
DBT is effective for:
- Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
- Eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, binge eating)
- Depression and treatment-resistant depression
- Anxiety and generalised anxiety disorder
- ADHD
- Bipolar disorder
- PTSD
- Substance addiction
If you struggle with intense emotions, find a DBT therapist now.
The Four DBT Skills
Core Mindfulness
Learn to live in the moment by focusing on the present. When dealing with emotional discomfort, mindfulness helps you slow down and adopt appropriate coping strategies.
DBT teaches four essential skill sets for building a life worth living.
Distress Tolerance
Skills for accepting yourself and your situation, including crisis management techniques like distraction, self-soothing, and improving the situation.
Emotional Regulation
Learn to recognise, name, and modify your feelings, reducing emotional sensitivity and having more positive experiences.
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Be more assertive while maintaining healthy relationships. Improve communication, set boundaries, and respect yourself and others.
Conditions DBT Can Treat
Dr. Marsha Linehan created DBT in the late 1980s after discovering that CBT alone did not work as well as expected for people with BPD. DBT was adapted to meet their specific needs.
DBT has proven effective for:
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Bipolar disorder
- Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
- Eating disorders
- Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Major depression (including treatment-resistant)
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Substance addiction
Benefits of DBT Therapy
In DBT, the patient and therapist work together to reconcile self-acceptance and change. Offering validation makes people more ready to collaborate and less distressed by the prospect of change.
Key components of DBT include:
- Acceptance and change – tolerating circumstances while making positive changes
- Behavioural focus – identifying destructive patterns and replacing them
- Cognitive work – modifying ineffective thoughts and beliefs
- Collaboration – learning to communicate and work as a team
- New skill sets – gaining practical tools for daily life
- Support – recognising and building on your strengths
Research shows over 75% of people with BPD no longer meet diagnostic criteria after a year of DBT treatment.
Not sure where to start?
Fill out our quick questionnaire and we will match you with the most appropriate therapist for your needs.
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Have questions about our therapy services? We are here to help. Send us a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
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