Chicago DBT Institute

Chicago DBT Institute The program serves teens and adults providing evidence-based treatment for disorders of emotion regulation.

DBT-LBC Certified Program providing comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy for children, adolescents, and adults struggling with emotion dysregulation, interpersonal conflict, suicidality, self-harm, eating disorders, substance use, and impulsivity. Chicago DBT Institute is a specialty outpatient treatment center located on the North Shore of Chicago that provides a DBT-Linehan Board certified

comprehensive DBT program. Presentations of these disorders can vary with symptoms including depression, anxiety, acting out behaviors, constant conflict in relationships, emotional instability, impulsivity, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, eating disorders, substance abuse, and/or post-traumatic stress disorder. Our ultimate goal of the program is to teach patients how to recognize and face their emotions skillfully, therefore, empower them with lasting ways to relieve their symptoms while they pursue a life worth living. We require our patients in the program to participate in individual therapy weekly, group skills training weekly for at least 24 weeks, and phone coaching on an as needed basis. Parents, partners, family members, and close friends of patients in our program are provided the opportunity to learn skills, receive support (including phone coaching for parents), and improve the quality of their relationship with the patient. Alongside and in addition to our program, we provide couple and family therapy utilizing DBT. We also provide other evidence-based treatments such as Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) and Family-Based Treatment for Eating Disorders (FBT). Overall, we believe that life can be meaningful even in the midst of immense pain and trust everyone has ability to make life-altering change. If you are interested or have any questions about our services, please call us at 847-607-9662.

If you feel like your emotions are right under the surface lately, you aren’t alone. We all go through seasons where we ...
05/27/2026

If you feel like your emotions are right under the surface lately, you aren’t alone. We all go through seasons where we are highly vulnerable to painful feelings.

But you don’t have to just white-knuckle it. In DBT, we use the ABC PLEASE skill to systematically lower that vulnerability. By prioritizing positive experiences, practicing coping skills, and treating your body well, you build up your emotional armor.

“Acceptance is the only way out of hell.”— Marsha LinehanRadical Acceptance is one of the foundational distress toleranc...
05/26/2026

“Acceptance is the only way out of hell.”
— Marsha Linehan

Radical Acceptance is one of the foundational distress tolerance skills we teach in DBT.

It is not a one-and-done decision. It’s a practice you return to over and over again, choosing to accept each moment exactly as it is, especially when circumstances are unwanted or painful.

Accepting reality doesn’t mean you approve of it or that you’re giving up. It just means you’re stopping the fight against what is, so you can move forward towards change.

In DBT, we practice a Non-Judgmental Stance. This means stripping away our evaluative filters and sticking to the facts....
05/25/2026

In DBT, we practice a Non-Judgmental Stance. This means stripping away our evaluative filters and sticking to the facts.

Evaluative judgments attach a moral label onto reality, which can trigger a shame spiral. Facts simply describe what is happening so you have the objective information you need to move forward.

Which lens are you viewing your day through today?

Comprehensive DBT is a research-backed roadmap designed to move individuals from survival mode to a life worth living. T...
05/14/2026

Comprehensive DBT is a research-backed roadmap designed to move individuals from survival mode to a life worth living. To achieve the best clinical outcomes, research indicates that a full-model program is most effective, consisting of weekly individual therapy, a weekly 120-minute skills group, 24/7 phone coaching for real-time support, and a therapist consultation team to ensure adherent care.

Treatment is organized in a clear hierarchy: we first prioritize safety by reducing life-threatening behaviors, followed by addressing therapy-interfering barriers and quality-of-life issues, before moving toward trauma recovery and the capacity for joy. By mastering the four core skill sets (Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness) clients ages 6 and up can replace maladaptive coping with effective tools for lasting change.

Chicago DBT Institute® is a specialty outpatient center in the northern suburbs of Chicago, providing comprehensive DBT....
05/14/2026

Chicago DBT Institute® is a specialty outpatient center in the northern suburbs of Chicago, providing comprehensive DBT. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is considered the Gold Standard for treating suicidal thoughts, self-injury, and symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).

Our experienced team uses DBT and other evidence-based treatments to help children, teens, and adults with disorders related to emotion regulation.

Our program requires:
Weekly 60-minute individual therapy
Weekly 120-minute group skills training
24/7 Phone coaching as needed

Parents can also learn skills, receive support (including phone coaching), and improve their relationship with the patient. We believe that life can be meaningful, even in the face of pain and suffering, and that everyone can create life-changing improvements.

As the academic year winds down, many of us see a familiar pattern: students returning from boarding school or college w...
04/20/2026

As the academic year winds down, many of us see a familiar pattern: students returning from boarding school or college who struggled to stay afloat, or high school seniors anxious about the looming transition to university life.

For many of these young adults, traditional talk therapy hasn't been enough to move the needle on chronic dysregulation, "failure to launch" patterns, or impulsive behaviors.

This summer, the Chicago DBT Institute® (CDBTI) is offering a specialized, 10-week intensive program designed to bridge that gap. We are one of only 35 Linehan Board-Certified programs in the nation, ensuring your clients receive the "Gold Standard" of adherent DBT.

Click the link below to schedule at intake call:
https://calendly.com/intakecall2022/questions-30min?month=2024-12

🎓 Free 2-Hour CE Webinar! 💚We’re so excited to collaborate with Authentically You ED Counseling to bring you a training ...
08/05/2025

🎓 Free 2-Hour CE Webinar! 💚

We’re so excited to collaborate with Authentically You ED Counseling to bring you a training that combines practical DBT strategies with inclusive approaches to assessing and treating eating disorders.

Whether you’re new to MED-DBT or looking to deepen your skills in identifying diverse ED presentations and understanding how provider attitudes impact care, this webinar offers real-world tools and resources to support your clinical work.

✅ Earn 2 FREE CE hours!
🔗 Register now to reserve your spot: https://lnkd.in/gzz52sSn
📧 Zoom link will be emailed prior to the event.

Here are some photos from our site visits over the past month! 😊 🌳 Our Outreach Coordinator, Hope, toured Rogers Behavio...
06/30/2025

Here are some photos from our site visits over the past month! 😊 🌳

Our Outreach Coordinator, Hope, toured Rogers Behavioral Health in Oconomowoc, WI, with a private look at their specialized Nashotah DBT program for teen girls. Hope and Eating Disorder Specialist/CDBTI Therapist Julia also visited Center for Discovery in Des Plaines, IL. Additional stops included Eating Recovery Center and Relief Mental Health in Northbrook, IL.

We’re grateful for these opportunities to connect and collaborate with fellow providers in the region!

As our Outreach Coordinator at Chicago DBT Institute, I’ve had the pleasure of connecting with some incredible community...
05/28/2025

As our Outreach Coordinator at Chicago DBT Institute, I’ve had the pleasure of connecting with some incredible community partners this past week! :)

I attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand opening of the Larson Family Wellness Center at Gateway Foundation’s Lake Villa location. It was inspiring to see the collaboration between so many groups — from local law enforcement and government officials to architects, tradespeople, and behavioral health professionals — all coming together to celebrate such a meaningful project. The leadership team’s speeches were powerful, and the work Gateway is doing is truly remarkable. Special thanks to Annie for sharing valuable insights on community outreach!

I also had the chance to join the Coffee + Kate event at Skyway’s new Downers Grove location. We toured their beautiful new space (the orchids and yoga room were personal highlights!), enjoyed Starbucks, and had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Kate Barse, their Executive Clinical Director.

At Chicago DBT Institute, we deeply value partnerships that expand access to care and promote wellness in our communities. We're grateful for opportunities like these to build meaningful relationships and help ensure our clients receive the highest quality support.

- Hope

Address

770 Lake Cook Road Suite 200
Deerfield, IL
60015

Telephone

+18476079662

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Chicago DBT Institute posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Chicago DBT Institute:

Shortcuts

Share

Category