What Is DBT?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based therapy originally developed for borderline personality disorder, now widely used to treat eating disorders. DBT focuses on mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.

For clients with eating disorders, DBT helps reduce harmful behaviors such as bingeing, purging, or restriction by teaching skills to handle difficult emotions in healthier ways.

At Virtue Recovery, DBT is a cornerstone of treatment for anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, ARFID, diabulimia, and co-occurring mental health conditions.

5 Benefits of DBT for Eating Disorders

Improves Emotional Regulation

Helps clients manage intense emotions without turning to disordered eating.

Builds Distress Tolerance

Provides tools to cope with stress, anxiety, and urges in healthier ways.

Enhances Mindfulness

Encourages awareness of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in the present moment.

Strengthens Relationships

Teaches communication and interpersonal effectiveness skills.

Prevents Relapse

Builds lasting skills for recovery and long-term resilience.

Do I Have an Eating Disorder?

If you’re concerned about your symptoms, click below to take our eating disorders quiz.

How DBT Works at Virtue Recovery

  • Mindfulness Training
    Developing awareness of the present moment and reducing automatic disordered behaviors.

  • Distress Tolerance
    Learning healthier ways to handle crises without resorting to self-destructive patterns.

  • Emotional Regulation
    Identifying, labeling, and managing intense emotions effectively.

  • Interpersonal Effectiveness
    Building healthier relationships through improved communication and boundary-setting.

Luxury Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa

Virtue Recovery provides DBT in a supportive, luxury environment. With private accommodations, chef-prepared meals, and holistic healing therapies, clients can focus fully on recovery while benefiting from evidence-based care.

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Our Las Vegas Luxury Inpatient Eating Disorder Treatment Center

Our inpatient program offers daily DBT sessions integrated with medical care, nutritional counseling, and holistic therapies. Inpatient DBT is ideal for clients struggling with severe eating disorder symptoms, emotional dysregulation, or co-occurring mental health issues.

Our Las Vegas Outpatient Eating Disorder Treatment Center

Our outpatient program provides flexible access to DBT while allowing clients to live at home. Outpatient DBT is effective for those stepping down from inpatient care or managing recovery alongside work, school, or family responsibilities.

Outpatient DBT services include:

  • Individual DBT sessions

  • DBT-focused group therapy

  • Family involvement and support

  • Relapse prevention planning

  • Flexible scheduling

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Our Las Vegas Adolescent / Teen Inpatient Eating Disorder Treatment Center

DBT is highly effective for teens who struggle with emotional intensity and impulsive behaviors. Our Adolescent Inpatient Program integrates DBT into daily treatment.

Key program features include:

  • 24/7 therapeutic and medical supervision

  • DBT modules adapted for teens

  • Family-based DBT sessions to strengthen recovery support

  • Peer group sessions for skill-building and encouragement

  • Academic support to continue school progress during treatment

This program empowers teens to build emotional resilience and healthier coping strategies.

Frequently Asked Questions

It reduces harmful behaviors like bingeing, purging, or restricting by teaching healthier coping mechanisms for managing emotions.

Yes. DBT is especially effective for individuals who experience intense emotions, impulsivity, or co-occurring conditions like anxiety, depression, or borderline personality disorder.

While CBT focuses on changing thoughts and behaviors, DBT emphasizes mindfulness, acceptance, and emotional regulation alongside behavioral change.

Yes. At Virtue Recovery, DBT is integrated with CBT, nutritional counseling, family therapy, and holistic approaches.

Glossary of Terms for DBT Treatment

A therapy focused on mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal skills.

Staying present and aware of thoughts and feelings without judgment.

Skills to manage crises without resorting to harmful behaviors.

Identifying and controlling emotional responses.

Communication and relationship-building skills.

Tools for sustaining long-term recovery.

Intensive, 24/7 residential care.

Flexible therapy sessions while living at home.

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