Build A Life Worth Living.
One Skill At A Time.
DBT is the gold-standard therapy for emotional intensity — created by Dr. Marsha Linehan to help people who feel everything more deeply. You'll learn 4 skill modules that turn overwhelming emotion into clarity, purpose, and control.
Acceptance And Change. Both At The Same Time.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy is a compassionate, evidence-based model built on one powerful truth: change happens when we first accept ourselves exactly as we are. The "dialectic" is this balance — radical acceptance alongside committed change.
DBT at Christie Heart follows the full Linehan model: mindfulness as the foundation, then three targeted skill streams. We work with individuals who experience intense emotions, relationship chaos, impulsive behaviors, or who simply want to stop feeling held hostage by their own feelings.
DBT doesn't ask you to "feel less." It asks you to feel fully — and choose wisely anyway. That's the freedom of a life worth living.
— Nigel Christie
Mindfulness Is The Foundation . Three Skill Streams Build The House.
Every DBT skill falls into one of four categories. You'll learn all four — and leave with a toolkit you can use in any crisis, any relationship, any moment.
Mindfulness
The "what" and "how" skills of DBT — observe, describe, participate; non-judgmentally, one-mindfully, effectively.
Distress Tolerance
Survive the moment without making it worse. Crisis survival skills for when you CAN'T change the situation.
Emotion Regulation
Name it to tame it. Understand what emotions are for, and change the ones that don't serve you.
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Ask for what you need. Say no. Keep relationships and your self-respect intact at the same time.
For Anyone Who Feels More Deeply Than The World Around Them.
Borderline Personality Traits
The original and most-researched application of DBT worldwide.
Emotional Dysregulation
When your feelings have you on a rollercoaster you can't get off.
Everything In Between
DBT skills work for any human who wants more emotional control.
4 Measurable Gains Within Weeks.
Fewer Crisis Moments
Most DBT clients report 50-80% reduction in self-harm urges and crisis behaviors by month 4.
Stable Relationships
DEAR MAN and GIVE skills transform how you ask for love and how you give it — no more walking on eggshells.
Wise Mind Access
Learn to reliably access the middle ground between emotion mind and reasonable mind — your wisest self.
Hope & Direction
A "life worth living" isn't a slogan. It's a concrete DBT plan — built session by session, skill by skill.
Inside A Standard 50-Min DBT Individual Session
Diary Card Review
Walk through the week: emotions tracked, urges fought, skills used (or missed).
Target Behavior Chain
Chain analysis: one moment you'd do differently. Step-by-step, from trigger to outcome.
New Skill Teaching
One new DBT skill fully taught, practiced in-session, and written into homework.
Commitment & Plan
Commitment to next week's diary card, one specific skill practice, and a crisis safety plan.
Common DBT Questions
Is DBT only for "severe" cases?
+Not at all — that's a common myth. DBT was originally designed for people with complex emotional challenges, but the skills themselves work beautifully for any human who wants better emotional control. Parents, professionals, students, and people going through life transitions all benefit from the DBT toolkit.
Do I have to do "homework" every week?
+Yes — DBT is 20% session, 80% between-session practice. But the "homework" is life itself: a 2-minute STOP skill before a meeting, a TIPP skill during an argument, a diary card that takes 30 seconds at bedtime. Small, frequent, realistic — never overwhelming.
How long until I see real change?
+Most clients report meaningful shifts by sessions 4-6: fewer regrets, less emotional whiplash, more sense of choice. Full DBT programs run 6-12 months (you can graduate), but many people continue monthly maintenance sessions afterward to keep the gains solid.
Your Emotions Don't Have To Run Your Life — Starting This Week.
Your free 20-minute DBT consultation is a chance to meet Nigel, see if DBT feels like the right fit, and hear exactly what a 6-month DBT program would look like for your specific situation and goals.