DBT Skills Group vs Individual DBT Therapy: What’s the Difference?

If you have been researching Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, you may have noticed that some providers offer individual DBT therapy, some offer DBT skills groups, and others offer both. This can feel confusing, especially if you are trying to figure out what type of support would actually help you most.

While both approaches are rooted in DBT principles, they serve different purposes. Some people benefit most from one-on-one therapy, while others find that learning practical coping skills in a structured group setting gives them the support and accountability they need. Often, people benefit from both utilizing the group to acquire skills while leaning on individual therapy for deep work on traumatic histories, interpersonal and family dynamics, and attachment complications.

Understanding the difference can help you decide what feels like the right fit for your needs, goals, and comfort level.

What Is a DBT Skills Group Like?

Many people imagine group therapy as sitting in a circle sharing deeply personal experiences with strangers. DBT skills groups are often much more structured than that.

A DBT skills group is typically focused on learning and practicing coping strategies in a supportive environment. Sessions often include:

• Learning specific DBT skills
• Reviewing how skills apply to real-life situations
• Practicing techniques between sessions
• Discussing challenges that come up while using the skills

While participation is encouraged, most DBT groups are not centered around detailed trauma processing or open-ended emotional sharing. For many people, this structure can actually make group therapy feel less intimidating.

DBT skills groups are often especially helpful for people who want practical tools they can immediately begin applying in daily life.

What Happens in an Online DBT Skills Group?

Online DBT skills groups generally follow a similar format to in-person groups, but are held virtually through secure video sessions.

A virtual group may include:

• Weekly meetings
• Guided discussions
• Skill-building exercises
• Worksheets or reflection activities
• Opportunities to ask questions and practice new techniques

For many adults, online therapy can make it easier to access consistent support while balancing work, school, caregiving responsibilities, or burnout.

Virtual groups can also feel more approachable for people with social anxiety or those who feel overwhelmed by in-person settings.

How Is Individual DBT Therapy Different?

Individual DBT therapy focuses more deeply on a person’s personal experiences, emotional patterns, relationships, and treatment goals.

While a DBT skills group teaches coping tools in a structured setting, individual therapy creates space to explore:

• Personal triggers and emotional patterns
• Relationship dynamics
• Life transitions or stressors
• Trauma history
• Self-esteem and identity concerns
• Applying DBT skills to specific situations

Some people benefit from having both formats at the same time. Others may prefer one approach depending on their current needs.

For example, someone looking primarily for emotional coping strategies and structure may feel well-supported in a DBT skills group alone. Someone navigating severe depression, trauma, or complex relationship issues may also want the individualized support of one-on-one therapy.

Should I Combine Group DBT and Individual DBT Therapy?

For many people, combining individual DBT therapy with a DBT skills group can be especially effective. The group setting provides structure, accountability, and opportunities to learn and practice skills, while individual therapy creates space to process trauma, explore emotional reactions, and talk through personal experiences that may feel too vulnerable or complex to discuss in a group setting.

Individual sessions can also help people work through moments when motivation starts to fade, when practicing DBT skills feels frustrating, or when questions come up that feel embarrassing, shameful, or difficult to ask in front of others. Having both forms of support can allow people to build coping skills while also receiving personalized emotional support and guidance.

Do You Need Individual Therapy to Join a DBT Skills Group?

Not always.

Some DBT programs require participants to also attend individual therapy, while others allow people to join skills groups independently.

For many people, a DBT skills group can still be incredibly valuable on its own, especially if they are looking for:

• Emotional regulation tools
• Healthier communication strategies
• Support managing anxiety or overwhelm
• Practical coping skills
• More structure and accountability

People often assume they need to be in crisis to benefit from DBT, but many participants simply want healthier ways to manage stress, relationships, and emotions.

Can DBT Help With Emotional Regulation?

One of the biggest reasons people seek DBT is because they feel emotionally overwhelmed or reactive.

Emotional regulation refers to the ability to understand, manage, and respond to emotions in a balanced way. When emotional regulation is difficult, people may experience:

• Intense mood swings
• Emotional shutdown
• Conflict in relationships
• Impulsive reactions
• Chronic anxiety or overwhelm
• Difficulty calming down after stress

DBT teaches skills that can help people slow down reactions, tolerate distress more effectively, and respond to emotions with greater awareness.

Many people find that learning these skills helps them feel more grounded and less controlled by intense emotional states.

Is Online DBT Therapy Effective?

Online DBT therapy and virtual DBT skills groups can be highly effective for many people.

Virtual therapy can make support more accessible by reducing barriers related to commuting, scheduling, or location. Many people also appreciate being able to practice therapy skills from the same environment where they experience day-to-day stressors.

Consistency is often one of the biggest predictors of therapeutic progress. For some people, online therapy makes it easier to attend regularly and stay engaged with treatment.

How Do You Know if a DBT Skills Group Might Help?

A DBT skills group may be worth exploring if you:

• Feel emotionally overwhelmed or reactive
• Struggle with anxiety or chronic stress
• Have difficulty setting boundaries
• Want healthier coping tools
• Experience conflict in relationships
• Tend to shut down or spiral emotionally
• Want more structure and accountability
• Are looking for practical strategies rather than only insight-based therapy

Many people join DBT groups not because something is “wrong” with them, but because they want better tools for navigating emotions, relationships, and everyday stress.

Choosing between a DBT skills group and individual DBT therapy is not necessarily about which option is better. Often, it is about understanding what kind of support feels most helpful for where you are right now.

For some people, individual therapy provides the depth and personalization they need. For others, a DBT skills group offers practical tools, structure, and support that helps them build healthier coping patterns over time. And for many people, combining both approaches can create a more balanced treatment experience by pairing skill-building with individualized emotional support and processing.

Interested in Joining a Virtual DBT Skills Group in New York?

At Marsh Psychotherapy, we offer virtual DBT skills groups for adults across New York who want to build healthier coping strategies, improve emotional regulation, and strengthen communication and relationship skills in a supportive virtual environment.

If you are curious about whether a DBT skills group may be a good fit for you, you can learn more about our virtual DBT skills group on our website.