dbtselfhelp.com

What It Is

DBT Self Help is a self-help resource website for the DBT community. It was founded in 2001 by DBT graduate Lisa Dietz. The site emphasizes that free information about Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) was limited at the time, and that DBT programs remain “expensive and hard to find” today, so it continues to position itself around free resources. It describes itself as one of the largest free DBT resources, with more than 20,000 monthly visits.

Core Evaluation

In terms of subject area, the site focuses on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) within mental health. It is suitable for users looking for DBT-related self-help materials, rather than conventional career-skills courses or degree programs. As for delivery format, the text only mentions “self-serve resources,” meaning self-guided materials; it does not indicate live classes, recorded courses, or 1-on-1 coaching. No certification or credential information is disclosed, so it should not be treated as a certified program. The teaching language is not explicitly stated, but the site appears to serve an English-speaking DBT community, with no information on Chinese-language support.

Instructors and Organizational Background

The team behind the site has a relevant professional background. The current lead, Alicia Paz, M.A., LPC Associate, is a DBT-trained therapist based in Portland, Oregon. Her online DBT courses and groups have reached more than 10,000 students across 119 countries. Content Manager Kat Schultz is a DBT graduate with a Master’s degree in Social Work; she edits existing content, writes new materials, and manages the website. Overall, the team is more credible than a typical personal blog, but the text does not provide details on content review procedures or the clinical boundaries of using the materials.

Pricing, Pros, and Cons

Its pricing advantage is very clear: the text repeatedly emphasizes free resources that are open to anyone seeking them, making it highly cost-effective. Strengths include its long history, relatively large traffic, and maintainers with DBT training and relevant professional experience. It can work well as an introduction to DBT and as supplementary learning material. Its limitations are that it does not present a complete course structure, learning pathway, interactive Q&A, certificates, or any promise of therapy services. It also cannot replace formal psychotherapy or professional supervision.

Who It’s For and Access from China

It is suitable for people who want to learn about DBT skills, have difficulty accessing offline DBT programs, or hope to find supplementary materials alongside formal therapy. The text does not mention access from China, and there is no information about payment methods. Since the resources are free, payment is not the main barrier, but users should still assess network accessibility, English reading ability, and the localization of mental health support on their own. If Chinese-language support or clinical intervention is needed, local hospital psychiatry/psychology departments, compliant counseling providers, or Chinese-language DBT skills training groups should be considered first.