Live online DBT skills classes, nationwide

An online DBT skills class is a live, virtual course that teaches the four core DBT skill modules — Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness — in a structured, weekly online DBT group. At DBT Academy, every class is taught live over Zoom by experienced DBT instructors, so you get the interaction of a real classroom from the comfort of home — no matter where in the country you live.

No local clinic, no waitlist — join from anywhere

Finding an in-person DBT skills group usually means hunting for a clinic that runs one, hoping it's near you, and then waiting — local DBT programs commonly have months-long waitlists. A nationwide online DBT group removes all of that. There's no clinic to track down and no waitlist to sit on: because a new module starts about every two months, you can join at the next module boundary from anywhere in the United States. Wherever you are, you join the same live cohort, practice with a real group, and get your questions answered in the moment.

Why take DBT skills online?

DBT skills groups are one of the most important parts of Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Taking them online removes the biggest barriers — travel, scheduling, and access. You don't need a local DBT program, and you're not limited to whatever happens to be offered in your city. An online DBT course lets you learn the same evidence-based curriculum from home, on a schedule that works around your life.

Online DBT group vs. a local DBT skills group

A traditional, in-person DBT skills group ties you to one location and one clinic's schedule. Our online DBT skills group is run the same way a good local group would be — live, small, instructor-led, and interactive — but you attend over Zoom. That means a nationwide pool of instructors and cohorts instead of just what's available locally, no commute, and far more flexibility about when you can start. For most adults learning DBT skills for the first time, an online DBT group online is the faster and more accessible way in.

What you'll learn

Our classes follow the standard DBT skills curriculum developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan. Over the course you'll build practical, evidence-based skills to regulate emotions, tolerate distress without making things worse, stay present through mindfulness, and communicate effectively while protecting your relationships and self-respect. If you're new to DBT, start with what DBT skills are and how they help.

Who our online classes are for

Our classes are for adults (18+) anywhere in the U.S. who want to learn DBT skills — whether to supplement personal therapy or to learn on their own. If you love someone with BPD or intense emotions and want to support them more effectively, our DBT Skills for Friends and Family course is designed for you. These are educational classes, not therapy, and are an excellent complement to your own treatment.

Enroll in an online DBT skills class

Our Adult DBT Skills Course covers the full adult DBT curriculum in three rolling modules — join a single module or the full round, and a new module starts about every 2 months. The next module, Interpersonal Effectiveness, begins January 2027. Signups open this fall — join the waitlist and you'll be first to know when they go live.

Join the waitlist

Common questions

Are the DBT classes live or self-paced?

Our classes are live and taught over Zoom by trained DBT professionals. You can ask questions, share your own examples, and learn from your classmates in real time — it is a real class, not a pre-recorded video course.

Can I join from any state?

Yes. Because our DBT skills classes are educational — not therapy — they are open to adults anywhere in the United States. You join the same live, online DBT group from wherever you are, with no state-by-state restrictions and no local clinic required.

Is there a waitlist?

Not the months-long kind local DBT programs often have. Because we run a nationwide online DBT group with a new module starting about every two months, you join at the next module boundary instead of waiting for a clinic to open a spot. Before signups open for an upcoming module, you can add your email to our list and enroll the moment they go live.

What is the difference between an online DBT group and online DBT therapy?

An online DBT skills group teaches you DBT skills in a structured class — it is education, open to anyone 18 or older. Online DBT therapy is individual treatment with your own therapist. Our classes are not therapy and do not replace it, but they pair well with your own treatment and are a common way to learn the skills without a therapy referral.

Do I need to be in therapy to join an online DBT skills class?

No. Our DBT skills classes are educational and open to anyone 18 or older. Many students use them to supplement their own therapy, and others take them simply to learn and apply DBT skills on their own. They are not a replacement for therapy.

How long is an online DBT skills course?

Our Adult DBT Skills Course runs as three rolling modules (7–9 weeks each) that together make up the full adult DBT curriculum, meeting once a week for 90 minutes. A new module starts about every two months, so you can join without waiting for a whole new round. The DBT Skills for Friends and Family course runs 8 weeks.

How much does an online DBT skills class cost?

You can take the Adult DBT Skills Course one module at a time ($700–$900 each) or enroll in the full round of all three modules for $2,000 (a $400 saving). DBT Skills for Friends and Family is $800.