Photo of Joseph De Piano, Licensed Professional Counselor in 19118, PA
Joseph De Piano
Licensed Professional Counselor, MS, LPC
Verified Verified
2 Endorsed
Philadelphia, PA 19118  (Online Only)
Please note that my practice is entirely virtual - I provide therapy using a HIPPA-compliant video platform. I am glad you have made the decision to seek therapy to make changes in your life. I would be happy to work together to help you accomplish your goals. I am experienced in working with clients struggling with anxiety, depression, and relationship problems. I frequently work with individuals from the LGBTQ+ communities. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about my services or to schedule a brief chat to see if the fit seems right for you.
Please note that my practice is entirely virtual - I provide therapy using a HIPPA-compliant video platform. I am glad you have made the decision to seek therapy to make changes in your life. I would be happy to work together to help you accomplish your goals. I am experienced in working with clients struggling with anxiety, depression, and relationship problems. I frequently work with individuals from the LGBTQ+ communities. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about my services or to schedule a brief chat to see if the fit seems right for you.
(215) 650-6111 View (215) 650-6111

Dialectical Behavior (DBT) Therapists

Who is DBT for?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is designed for people who experience extreme emotional suffering because they lack the skills of emotion regulation and distress tolerance. The basic affliction can underlie a wide range of conditions, from borderline and other personality disorders to PTSD and treatment-resistant anxiety and depression. The therapy is helpful to those whose emotional reactivity is so intense it is disruptive to everyday functioning and leads to frequent crises.

Why do people need DBT?

The ability to regulate emotions is a core psychological skill that enables people to function in life and pay attention to the world outside themselves; it is consistently associated with well-being. DBT is designed to help people learn how to manage and regulate their emotions. Originally developed to treat people with borderline personality disorder whose extreme emotional suffering led to self-harming behavior and suicide attempts, the therapy is now applied to other conditions involving emotion dysregulation, particularly when other treatments have failed.

What happens in DBT?

Individuals meet weekly with their therapist to discuss their experiences relating to moods, behavior, and skills. Using checklists they maintain, they review emotional experiences and positive practices they engage in. The diaries help individuals discern what led up to a specific problem encountered, this is followed by discussion of the consequences of their actions. In addition, individuals may meet in class-like small groups to learn skills such as mindfulness, emotion regulation and distress tolerance.

How long does DBT last?

Because it is intended to establish long-lasting behavioral change among those with persistent problems, DBT is designed to last six months to a year. DBT includes both weekly sessions of individual therapy and weekly skills-training sessions conducted in small groups. Studies of DBT have documented improvement within a year of treatment, particularly in controlling self-harmful behavior; nevertheless, individuals may require therapy for several years.