DBT Therapists in Toronto

Browse 6 therapists offering DBT in Toronto. Find the right counsellor or psychotherapist for your needs.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a structured, evidence-based treatment originally developed by psychologist Marsha Linehan in the late 1980s for people experiencing severe emotional dysregulation and chronic suicidal ideation. It has since been studied and adapted for a wide range of concerns, including eating disorders, substance use, depression, post-traumatic stress, and self-harm. The word "dialectical" refers to the core balance the therapy tries to achieve: accepting yourself as you are right now while also working to change the behaviours that are causing harm.

What to look for in a DBT therapist on Purple Lotus

  • Formal DBT training beyond introductory workshops
  • Experience with your specific concern (BPD, self-harm, eating disorders, etc.)
  • Clear description of what format they offer (comprehensive vs. DBT-informed)
  • Comfort with the structured, skills-focused nature of the approach

6 therapists for DBT in Toronto

Browse 6 therapists offering DBT in Toronto. Find the right counsellor or psychotherapist for your needs.

Paula Ghelman

Paula Ghelman

Do you struggle with anxiety that affects your relationships, work, or school? Do you feel exhausted, unmotivated, and overwhelmed by everything you need to do, and don't feel good enough? Do you wonder if you'll ever feel like you used to? We often put our needs last, justifying this by telling ourselves we have too much to accomplish first. Not addressing your depression, anxiety, or past trauma can lead to isolation, ruin your self-esteem, and make day-to-day life harder than it needs to be. However, there are ways to navigate these personal burdens and make life hopeful again, and you don't have to do it alone. I believe in a trauma-focused, strength-based approach and utilizing evidence-based practice to help you learn how to manage stress, anxiety, depression, and heal from trauma. By creating a safe space where you are not only heard but truly understood, you can start your transformative path towards a more fulfilling life. Providing individual online psychotherapy and an individualized DBT skills program, you will learn how to change negative self-talk, manage emotions, navigate relationships. Getting started is often the hardest part, and therapy help you create a holistic toolkit to enjoy happier, more fulfilling relationships, prioritize yourself, and feel lighter overall. Book a free consultation to take the first step towards a brighter, hopeful future.

Online
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Diana Ben

Diana Ben

Hi, I’m Diana! As a first‑generation African Canadian, I understand the complexity of navigating cultural identity, family expectations, people‑pleasing, autonomy, and the stigma surrounding mental health. Many clients come to therapy feeling overwhelmed by unprocessed trauma, anxiety, and the pressure to hold everything together. They often feel alone in their experiences, struggle with confidence, and second‑guess their decisions and experiences. My goal is to offer a non-judgmental, compassionate, culturally sensitive space where you feel heard, respected, and supported. I help you understand the roots of your thoughts, emotions, and patterns so you can shift them with intention. My work focuses on identity, self‑awareness, and healing from trauma and anxiety in a space that feels grounding and supportive. My approach blends insight, compassion, and practical tools to help you create real, sustainable change! Therapy with me is about understanding yourself more deeply so you can move through life with clarity and confidence. I believe insight is a powerful tool for healing; it helps us break old cycles and create new possibilities by moving beyond the feeling of “I don’t know why.” If you’re ready to explore your inner world with support, I’m here to help!

Hybrid
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Natalie McMullen

Natalie McMullen

Top Specialities: trauma, anxiety, attachment issues I believe our life events shape us into who we are today. We weren’t BORN with an inner critic, perfectionism, or people-pleasing tendencies! Something happened in our lives that taught us those behaviours. Maybe we learned that it’s less painful to avoid confrontation than to risk rejection or failure. Maybe we learned that to ensure safety, we must be hypervigilant, constantly looking out for threats. Those behaviours likely helped you survive at one time, but now, they might be causing chronic anxiety, difficulties in your relationships, and low self-esteem. I will help you understand your emotions and unlearn beliefs and coping behaviours that are no longer serving you. We’ll learn how your past and present experiences are contributing to the issues you want to let go of, and carve a path forward. Therapy can help you process your experiences and develop coping skills to manage your reactions and emotions. I have experience helping with anxiety/stress/burnout, trauma, relationship/attachment issues, self-esteem, depression, emotion regulation, and borderline personality disorder. I’m especially passionate about treating developmental/attachment trauma to improve self-esteem, foster safety and security, and move towards secure attachment patterns. My Approach/Style As a therapist, I have a friendly, authentic, and warm demeanour. I believe a strong connection with your therapist is of crucial importance, so I take extra care to ensure I’m understanding your needs and perspective. (This doesn’t mean I’ll never challenge you!). I’m also happy to share appropriate information about my own life if helpful and relevant. I believe everyone has inner wisdom and resilience. I respect your autonomy, so I will always support you in coming to your own conclusions and finding your own solutions. But I also don’t shy away from sharing different insights and perspectives, or giving guidance and advice if needed. Types of Therapy After spending some time getting to know you, I’ll apply the therapy techniques that best suit your concerns. I use techniques informed by schema therapy, inner child work, IFS, ACT, CBT, DBT, EFT, mindfulness, and attachment theory. I am also trained in EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) therapy, which is an evidence-based and WHO-recommended treatment for trauma and PTSD. If you’d like to learn more, please reach out for a free consultation! *Please note, I am located in Toronto, and my working hours are as follows: Tuesday and Wednesday: 11am-7pm Eastern Time Thursday: 1pm-7pm Eastern time Friday: 10am-5pm Eastern Time

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Melanie Brooks

Melanie Brooks

I provide individual therapy to children, adolescents, and young adults experiencing anxiety, emotional dysregulation, interpersonal challenges, and life transitions. Those who have difficulty managing stress, understanding their emotions and behaviours, may find it helpful to work through challenges and develop coping skills to navigate life experiences during therapy sessions. My approach to therapy offers a warm, collaborative, and non-judgmental approach with an emphasis on the therapeutic relationship. I strive to create a safe space working alongside children, adolescents, and families to establish goals and a plan to achieve them in hopes of creating meaningful and sustainable change!

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Amelia Jones

Amelia Jones

Do you struggle with anxiety, people pleasing or feelings of overwhelm? Do you have a difficult relationship with your parents or get easily triggered? Maybe you have ADHD (or think you do) and feel like you can't do life "right"? If you experience any of these, I can help! You likely need to uncover unhelpful patterns, heal the past wounds holding you back, and develop actionable tools to help you return to a more grounded, regulated state. I'll help you process AND keep you accountable (warmly and compassionately of course). I'm trained in both Talk and Art Therapy. You can try both or choose whatever one feels best for you. Why try art therapy? Because sometimes our thoughts and feelings are hard to express with words alone. Creativity can provide another avenue of expression to dig in deeper. Heads up: No art skills are needed and we'll still use talk therapy approaches too! My style is warm, curious and collaborative. That involves both listening AND supporting you shift out of patterns no longer serving you. Together, we'll build on sessions over time with intention and direction. Let's get you thriving, not just surviving! To book a free consult, email or visit my site for the online booking link.

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Christine Peddle

Christine Peddle

I (she/her) have been practicing therapy since 2016. Originally from Newfoundland and Labrador I’ve made the West End of Toronto home and St. Joseph’s Health Centre my primary workplace where I work as a Child and Family Therapist. I have countless trauma trainings, plus DBT, CBT, DDP, EFFT, Psychodrama for Traumatic Stress, and exposure to Gestalt Therapy. I participate in psychoanalysis and am a true believer in the healing relational aspect of therapy. I know the importance of an intersectional approach to personal growth, and I seek to help you discover wholeness versus the elusive permanent wellness. Relational dynamics are my expertise, they play important roles in how we see ourselves and live our lives.

Hybrid
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Looking beyond Toronto? Browse all DBT therapists in Canada.

DBT therapists in Toronto — at a glance

accepting new clients
6/ 6
offer online sessions
6/ 6
offer sliding scale fees
4/ 6

Frequently asked questions

What is Dialectical Behaviour Therapy used for?

DBT is most commonly used for borderline personality disorder, self-harm, and chronic suicidal ideation. It is also supported by research for eating disorders such as binge eating and bulimia, substance use, and depression with significant emotional dysregulation. The skills-based format makes it adaptable to a range of presentations where intense emotions are a central concern.

How is DBT different from CBT?

DBT was developed from CBT and shares its structured, evidence-based approach. The main differences are the emphasis on acceptance alongside change, the use of mindfulness as a core skill, and the explicit skills training format organized into four modules. CBT focuses more on changing unhelpful thoughts; DBT also targets emotional intensity and self-destructive behaviour patterns.

What are the four DBT skills modules?

The four modules are mindfulness (awareness without reactivity), distress tolerance (getting through crises without making things worse), emotion regulation (understanding and reducing emotional intensity), and interpersonal effectiveness (communicating clearly and maintaining relationships). Each module contains specific skills taught and practised over the course of treatment.

How long does DBT take?

Standard comprehensive DBT typically runs six months to a year, with weekly individual sessions and a weekly skills group. DBT-informed therapy can be shorter depending on your goals and presenting concerns. Your therapist can give you a clearer timeline once they understand what you are working on and what format of DBT fits your situation.

What is the difference between standard DBT and DBT-informed therapy?

Standard DBT is a comprehensive programme including individual therapy, a structured skills training group, phone coaching for crises, and a therapist consultation team. DBT-informed therapy draws on the same skills and principles but in a less intensive format, typically without the group or between-session coaching. Both can be valuable depending on the severity of the concern and what is available.

Is DBT effective for borderline personality disorder?

DBT has one of the strongest evidence bases of any treatment for BPD. Randomized controlled trials have shown it reduces self-harm, hospitalizations, and treatment dropout, while improving quality of life and emotional functioning. It was specifically designed for this population and remains a first-line recommendation in most clinical guidelines.

Can I do DBT online?

Yes. Many therapists offer individual DBT sessions online, and some skills training groups are also available virtually. The structured, skills-based format translates well to video sessions. Check each therapist profile for available formats, and ask specifically whether the group component is offered online if that is important to your care.

How do I find a DBT therapist in Canada?

Browse therapist profiles and filter by DBT as a modality. Look for therapists who describe formal DBT training, specify what format they offer, and have experience with the concern you are bringing. Reading their profile carefully will give you a sense of whether their approach matches what you are looking for before reaching out.

How do I find a DBT therapist in Toronto?

Browse therapists in Toronto who list DBT as a modality. Look for providers who describe their training background, whether they offer comprehensive DBT or a DBT-informed approach, and whether they have experience with your specific concerns. Many therapists in Toronto also offer online sessions if in-person availability is limited.

Is DBT covered by insurance in Toronto?

Coverage depends on your extended health benefits plan and the therapist's designation. In Toronto, sessions with a registered psychologist, psychotherapist, or clinical social worker may be eligible for reimbursement. Check your plan for covered designations and annual session limits. Some employers also offer EAP coverage that includes DBT-trained providers.

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