DBT Therapy for Trauma and Anxiety in London: What to Expect and How It Helps
- Matthew Frener
- 23 hours ago
- 6 min read
By Matthew Frener | BACP & NCPS Accredited Integrative Psychotherapeutic Counsellor & Psychotherapist
Last updated: 11th April
If you've been living with anxiety or trauma for a while, you may have already tried talking about it.
You might have sat in sessions, explored where it came from, understood it intellectually - and still found yourself flooded, reactive, or stuck in the same patterns.
That gap between knowing and feeling is real.
And it's exactly where DBT comes in.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy is a skills-based approach that gives you practical tools to manage overwhelming emotions, tolerate distress without making things worse, and begin to feel more in control of your inner world.
At my practice in Fitzrovia, I use DBT skills as part of an integrative, trauma-informed approach - meaning we work with both the roots of what you're experiencing and the day-to-day skills that help you cope differently.
What Is DBT and Why Is It Used for Trauma and Anxiety?
DBT was developed in the late 1980s by Dr Marsha Linehan, originally as a treatment for people experiencing extreme emotional pain and suicidal ideation.
What made it distinctive from the outset was its dual focus: change and acceptance. Rather than simply trying to reframe thoughts (as CBT does), DBT teaches you to tolerate difficult emotions without being overwhelmed by them, while also working towards meaningful change.
The therapy is built around four core skill modules:
Mindfulness: learning to observe your thoughts and feelings without reacting to them automatically
Distress tolerance: getting through crisis moments without making things worse
Emotion regulation: understanding and managing intense emotional responses
Interpersonal effectiveness: communicating your needs clearly and maintaining healthy relationships
Research consistently supports its effectiveness. Studies show that up to 77% of individuals no longer meet the diagnostic criteria for borderline personality disorder (BPD) following one year of DBT treatment.
Beyond BPD, DBT is now widely used for anxiety, depression, trauma, eating disorders, ADHD, and addiction.
How DBT Addresses Trauma Specifically
Trauma, whether a single event or a pattern of experiences over time, often leaves the nervous system in a state of heightened alert.
You might find yourself reacting intensely to situations that feel disproportionate, struggling to feel safe in your body, or swinging between emotional flooding and numbness.
This is the nervous system doing what it learned to do to survive.
DBT is particularly well-suited to trauma work because it targets emotional dysregulation directly.
The distress tolerance and mindfulness skills give you ways to interrupt the cycle before it escalates - not by pushing feelings away, but by learning to be with them differently.
For people living with Complex PTSD (CPTSD), DBT skills are increasingly used alongside trauma-focused approaches.
The stabilisation that DBT provides, the ability to manage distress in the moment, is often what makes deeper trauma processing possible later. You build the container before you open what's inside.
In my practice, I integrate DBT skills within a trauma-informed framework, which means we go at your pace, with your safety and autonomy at the centre of the work.
What DBT Therapy Looks Like at Matthew Frener Therapy
My approach to DBT is integrative rather than prescriptive. I don't run a rigid programme, I draw on DBT skills as part of a wider therapeutic relationship that is tailored to you.
Individual therapy sessions run for 50 minutes and are available in-person at my consulting room in Fitzrovia, Central London (W1W), and online via secure video.
Sessions are typically weekly, and the pace and focus are shaped by what you bring.
DBT skills groups are available both in-person and online.
These are structured sessions focused specifically on learning and practising the four DBT skill modules - mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Groups offer something individual therapy cannot: the experience of learning alongside others who understand what it's like. I work with a number of providers that offer DBT Groups.
A free 15-20 minute introductory call is available before you commit to anything, so you can ask questions and get a sense of whether we might work well together.
I accept insurance from Aviva, Cigna, Vitality, and WPA.
Who Is DBT Therapy Suitable For?
DBT is particularly effective for people experiencing:
Anxiety and panic
Trauma, PTSD, and Complex PTSD (CPTSD)
Emotional dysregulation - intense, hard-to-manage feelings
Eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, and ARFID
Addiction and substance use
Depression
ADHD
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) or Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD)
Relationship difficulties and interpersonal conflict
You don't need a formal diagnosis to benefit from DBT skills.
If you feel like your emotions are running the show, or that you're struggling to cope with distress in ways that work for you, DBT may be a useful part of your therapy.
How Long Does DBT Therapy Take?
Standard DBT programmes follow a structured format and typically run for around 6 months.
They usually combine weekly individual therapy sessions with a weekly skills group - the two work together, with the group teaching the skills and individual therapy helping you apply them to your own life and circumstances.
If a full DBT programme doesn't feel like the right fit, whether that's due to time, cost, or the nature of what you're working with, DBT-informed therapy offers a more bespoke alternative.
This is an individually tailored approach that draws on DBT skills and principles within a flexible, one-to-one therapeutic relationship.
We work at your pace, focusing on the areas most relevant to you, without the structure of a fixed programme.
I'll discuss both options openly with you from the start, so you can make an informed decision about what's likely to work best for where you are right now.
Starting DBT Therapy in London
If you're based in London or anywhere in the UK, I offer DBT-informed individual therapy and DBT skills groups both in-person and online.
My consulting room is in Fitzrovia, Central London, easily accessible from Oxford Circus, Goodge Street, and Tottenham Court Road.
The first step is a free introductory call. It's a chance to talk briefly about what's brought you here, ask any questions you have, and get a sense of whether we're a good fit.
There's no obligation, and no pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is DBT therapy used for?
DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy) is used to treat anxiety, trauma, PTSD, CPTSD, borderline personality disorder, eating disorders, addiction, depression, and emotional dysregulation. It teaches practical skills in mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Is DBT effective for trauma?
Yes. DBT is increasingly used alongside trauma-focused approaches for CPTSD and complex trauma. Its distress tolerance and mindfulness skills help clients manage trauma responses and emotional overwhelm between sessions, and can provide the stabilisation needed before deeper trauma processing begins.
How is DBT different from CBT?
CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns. DBT adds an acceptance component - it teaches you to tolerate distress and regulate emotions rather than solely reframing thoughts. DBT is particularly effective when emotional dysregulation is a core difficulty.
Can I do DBT therapy online in London?
Yes. I offer DBT-informed individual therapy and DBT skills groups both in-person in Fitzrovia, Central London, and online via secure video sessions, so you can access support wherever you are in the UK.
How long does DBT therapy take?
Standard DBT programmes follow a structured format and typically run for around 6 months. They combine weekly individual therapy sessions with a weekly skills group - the two work together, with the group teaching the skills and individual therapy helping you apply them to your own life and circumstances.
If a full DBT programme doesn't feel like the right fit - whether that's due to time, cost, or the nature of what you're working with - DBT-informed therapy offers a more bespoke alternative.
This is an individually tailored approach that draws on DBT skills and principles within a flexible, one-to-one therapeutic relationship. We work at your pace, focusing on the areas most relevant to you, without the structure of a fixed programme.
I'll discuss both options openly with you from the start, so you can make an informed decision about what's likely to work best for where you are right now.
Does Matthew Frener offer DBT therapy in London?
Yes. I am a BACP and NCPS accredited integrative psychotherapeutic counsellor based in Fitzrovia, Central London. I offer DBT-informed individual therapy and DBT skills groups in-person and online, as part of an integrative, trauma-informed approach.
Matthew Frener is a BACP and NCPS accredited integrative psychotherapeutic counsellor based in Fitzrovia, London. He specialises in trauma, anxiety, addiction, eating disorders, and LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy.
To find out more about Matthew's approach, click here, or visit his BACP or Psychology Today profiles.
