DBT-PE is an evidence-based treatment that combines: 

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Originally designed for individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and chronic emotion dysregulation. DBT teaches skills like distress tolerance, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness. 

AND

Prolonged Exposure (PE): A form of trauma-focused therapy that helps individuals confront and process traumatic memories and triggers, reducing PTSD symptoms. 

What is DBT-PE?

Who is DBT-PE for?

  • Individuals with PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), especially from childhood abuse or other complex trauma.

  • Those who struggle with emotion dysregulation, self-harm, suicidal ideation, or other issues commonly addressed in standard DBT.

How DBT-PE works:

Phase 1 – DBT Foundation: The person completes standard DBT (or a strong foundation of it) to stabilize high-risk behaviors and build coping skills.

Phase 2 – PE Integration: Prolonged Exposure is introduced, where the person:

  • Confronts trauma reminders (imaginal or in real life)

  • Processes trauma memories in a structured, supportive way

  • Reduces avoidance and emotional reactivity to triggers

Why combine DBT and PE?

Many trauma survivors also struggle with intense emotional dysregulation, self-harm, or suicidal thoughts—issues traditionally treated with Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Historically, these individuals were often excluded from trauma-focused treatments like Prolonged Exposure (PE) because of concerns that revisiting traumatic memories might overwhelm them or increase unsafe behaviors.

DBT-PE was developed to address this gap. By first using DBT to help clients develop emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and crisis management skills, they gain the stability needed to safely engage in trauma processing. Once a solid DBT foundation is in place, PE can then be introduced in a structured and supportive way to help the person directly confront and process trauma.

This integrated approach ensures that clients are not only emotionally prepared for exposure work, but also supported throughout the process—allowing them to reduce PTSD symptoms without compromising safety. DBT-PE empowers individuals to move from surviving to healing, breaking the cycle of avoidance and emotional reactivity that keeps trauma symptoms in place.