Care without the wait

121 licensed therapists & providers in Massachusetts—9 in Lexington. Available as soon as today, in person and online

Therapy for every life stage

Our providers work with individuals, couples, families, & teens for anxiety, depression, grief, & more

#1 for in-network coverage

We accept UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, BCBS Plans, Humana, Aetna, & many more. Self-pay options available, no membership fees

Patients who get better

94% of patients feel truly understood by their provider. 3 out of 4 see improvement in depression & anxiety symptoms within 3 months

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4,690 people sought dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) help in Massachusetts in the last year

Discover how starting dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) therapy can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.

Start DBT with a licensed therapist as soon as this week

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Joy Gallon

Hear from Joy Gallon, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)

View Joy Gallon's profile

What is your go-to approach for dialectical behavior therapy?

My general approach with dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is to carefully assess whether a structured skills-based approach is helpful for a particular client. If I believe the skills would be helpful, I introduce DBT to the person, educating them about the various skills, my approach, and different ways we could structure sessions to include skill building. I also emphasize the need for practicing the skills between sessions, which helps clients make a good decision about their own preferences in treatment.

What tools do you teach in dialectical behavior therapy?

In DBT, I teach the following tools:

  • Mindfulness
  • Distress tolerance
  • Emotion regulation
  • Interpersonal effectiveness
Each tool is an array of skills, all of which are built on the foundation of mindfulness. I try to expose people to as many of the skills as possible, as each person resonates with different ones that combine to create a personalized plan and their own “go-to” skills.

How do you know when a client is making meaningful progress in dialectical behavior therapy?

I can tell when a client is making meaningful progress in DBT when they are able to give examples of times between sessions when they used a particular skill or skills and found it helpful. Over time, with repetitive use of some skills, clients often begin to internalize them and use them automatically, which is one of the goals.

What can clients do in their personal time to supplement dialectical behavior therapy?

Clients can supplement their time in DBT by practicing the skills and using a workbook-based approach to expand their skills.

What should someone do to prepare for starting dialectical behavior therapy?

To prepare for their first DBT session, an individual can review the provided materials ahead of the session and write down any questions they would like addressed in the session.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) FAQs

What is dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)?

At Thriveworks, Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) primarily concentrates on assisting individuals in emotion regulation, enhancing interpersonal relationships, and acquiring effective coping strategies for managing stress and emotional difficulties.

How does DBT work?

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) targets your personal challenges. You may work with your DBT therapist to maintain diary cards to monitor progress, emphasizing validation and support in the therapeutic relationship. DBT follows a stage-based approach, prioritizing crisis reduction initially and life satisfaction.

What is DBT best used for?

DBT was initially developed to address the needs of individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD). However, its versatile approach has enabled its application to a wide range of mental health conditions, including but not limited to, anxiety, depression, stress, and anger issues.

What are the 4 pillars of DBT?

The 4 pillars of DBT are mindfulness, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance.

Is DBT better than EMDR?

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) have distinct purposes and aren’t inherently superior or inferior to one another. DBT is most effective for managing emotional regulation, personality disorders, and interpersonal challenges, while EMDR is specifically tailored for individuals with trauma-related conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Is DBT conducted in person or online?

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) with therapists at Thriveworks in Lexington, MA is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.

How many months is DBT?

The duration of a standard DBT program is typically around 24 weeks, which is roughly six months. The actual number of sessions will vary depending on the issues you wish to address.

Pricing & insurance

Our therapists accept most major insurance and we offer self-pay options too.
Learn more about pricing for therapy and counseling at Thriveworks.

Our therapists and counselors in Lexington accept 28 insurance plans

  • Aetna

  • Aetna Medicare Advantage

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts | BCBS Medicare Advantage (HMO | PPO)

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield | Anthem (Blue Card)

  • Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts | BCBS

  • Carelon

  • Cigna | Evernorth

  • Compsych

  • Fallon Health | Medicare Advantage

  • Firefly Health Plan | Cigna PPO Network

  • First Health Network

  • Harvard Pilgrim

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Self-pay costs at Lexington
Talk therapy

Talk therapy

Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Talk therapy

Psychiatry

Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Hear from our clients

5.0 Learn about verified reviews
★★★★★
I felt heard and my therapist gave me good feedback.
Mollee Mar 2026
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
Very patient and caring. I feel listened to and not forced into things Im not comfortable with.
Ryleigh Mar 2026
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
Elizabeth has been everything i’ve looked for in a counselor- supportive, kind, nonjudgemental, loyal to her clients (didn’t just leave me when she switched practices). She makes me feel seen, heard and validated. She genuinely helps me be a better person. i couldn’t be more grateful to have Elizabeth as my counselor.
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River Mar 2026
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
This therapy is opening my eyes on a lot of my issues in life
Rishi Mar 2026
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
When I first made contact with Thriveworks, I appreciated the ease and understanding of the process and I really like the therapist I was recommended.
Aaliya Mar 2026
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
I think it's taken a while for Sue to "get" me but I'm finding that as she does, our sessions are getting more and more helpful. I understand that it does take a while for two people to get to know each other especially in a therapy session.
Jaylen Mar 2026
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
Great feedback
Isabelle Mar 2026
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
No improvement needed so far
Freyah Mar 2026
Thriveworks.com verified review
8 of 81 reviews

Where to find us

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Address

1666 Massachusetts Ave Suite 10, 2nd Floor
Lexington, MA 02420

Getting here

Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Lexington is located near Massachusetts Ave and Grant St, off Marrett Rd. It is just down the road from the Lexington Battle Green and near the Cary Memorial Library.

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Phone number

(781) 386-0443
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Languages spoken by MA providers

  • English
  • Spanish
  • Mandarin
  • Farsi
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Hours

Tuesday 8:00am - 9:30pm
Wednesday 8:00am - 9:30pm
Thursday 8:00am - 9:30pm
Friday 8:00am - 9:30pm
Saturday 8:00am - 9:30pm
Sunday 8:00am - 9:30pm
Monday 8:00am - 9:30pm

Shown in ET

Tuesday 8:00am - 11:00pm
Wednesday 8:00am - 11:00pm
Thursday 8:00am - 11:00pm
Friday 8:00am - 11:00pm
Saturday 8:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 6:00pm
Monday 8:00am - 11:00pm

Shown in ET

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