Treatment approach · DBT

DBT Therapyin Orange County

We use DBT in our Laguna Beach PHP and IOP groups and in treatment for borderline personality disorder.

Located in Laguna Beach, California

(949) 670-9345
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  • ProgramsPHP and IOP
  • Used inGroups and BPD care
  • FounderC-DBT certified

How we use DBT

DBT Is One Part of Your Plan

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) teaches skills for strong emotions, hard moments, and relationships. At Exist, we use DBT in our groups and in treatment for borderline personality disorder, as part of PHP and IOP in Laguna Beach. It sits alongside CBT, parts work, EMDR, and somatic care, so your skills work happens next to the rest of your treatment.

Skills you can use when emotions run high.

Call (949) 670-9345
A person standing at the mouth of a narrow eucalyptus canyon at dusk, back to camera, a pale sun in mauve haze.

How DBT Fits Into a PHP or IOP Day

PHP runs about six hours a day, Monday through Friday, and IOP runs about three hours a day, three to five days a week. DBT skills are taught in group, and you also meet with your own therapist, a case manager, and a doctor for medication if you want one.

  1. Two palms pressed flat on a dark wood table in warm side light — the skill start of the week.

    Body

    Somatic care looks at how your body and mind affect each other, using yoga, mindfulness, and other body-based therapies.

  2. A dark corridor of empty doorways in dusk light — the thought, then the next room.

    Mind

    Cognitive analysis looks at the automatic thoughts that pop into your head and how they feed what you're struggling with.

  3. A person in a dark coat walking a dirt canyon fire road at dusk, back to camera, a pale sun in haze.

    Brain

    Psychoanalytical work gives you a safe space to explore hidden emotions and patterns, and why you feel and act the way you do.

  4. Two people sitting on a low stone wall with space between them at dusk, backs to camera, iceplant along the bluff.

    Skills

    DBT teaches mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and skills for getting along with the people in your life.

Who Leads Your Care

Our founder is certified in DBT.

Dr. Courtney Tracy · Founder and chief clinical officer

Dr. Courtney Tracy specializes in borderline personality disorder and substance use, and she built the three-part model our PHP and IOP programs are based on.

  • Founder

    Dr. Courtney Tracy

  • Credentials

    LCSW · PsyD · CCTP

  • Accreditation

    The Joint Commission

The clinical model

Where DBT Fits in Your Treatment

DBT works alongside the rest of your treatment at Exist. Here is where it fits, and where you can read more.

What we treat

  1. BPD

    We treat borderline personality disorder with DBT and IFS-informed sessions, and full treatment typically lasts four to five months.

    • BPD
    • DBT + IFS

  2. Strong Emotions

    In group, you learn practical ways to get through intense emotions and calm yourself down.

    • Group
    • Skills

  3. Substance Use

    If you use alcohol or drugs to cope, we treat that in the same plan as your mental health.

    • Dual diagnosis
    • Same plan

  4. The Rest of the Plan

    Your plan can also include EMDR for trauma and somatic care for the body.

    • EMDR
    • Somatic

Three Steps to a Start Date

  1. 01

    Reach Out

    Call or text (949) 670-9345, or fill out the form to tell us a little about yourself.

  2. 02

    We Call You Back

    We call or text you to complete an assessment, go over your insurance and costs, and set an intake date.

  3. 03

    A Start Date

    You get your schedule ahead of time and a warm welcome when you arrive. If you're not local, ask us about the Truth House.

(949) 670-9345

Questions About DBT Therapy, Answered Plainly

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a skills-based therapy for intense emotions, distress, and relationships. At Exist, we use it in group and in treatment for borderline personality disorder, inside our PHP and IOP programs in Laguna Beach. You go home each evening, or to the Truth House if you're staying there. Call (949) 670-9345.

Something we didn’t cover? Call (949) 670-9345 or text us.

Related conditionBorderline Personality Disorder TreatmentRead how we treat BPD with DBT and IFS-informed therapy, and how long treatment usually takes.Read about BPD treatment

Talk With Us About DBT

Call (949) 670-9345 or send the admissions form, and tell us what's going on. We'll tell you honestly whether PHP, IOP, Outpatient 1:1, or a referral fits best, and we'll check your benefits for free.

Clinically reviewed by Dr. Courtney Tracy, LCSW, PsyD · Reviewed September 2026

Talk to admissions(949) 670-9345