DBT-Informed Therapy in Fort Wayne for Teens and Young Adults
When emotions hit at full volume, it’s hard to think, let alone choose what to do next. DBT therapy skills give you a way to ride out those moments without making things worse. At Unwilted Counseling, Destina Rekeweg, LMHC, teaches dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills to young people ages 13 to 25, in person in Fort Wayne and online across Indiana and eligible parts of Ohio.
Book a free 15-minute consultation | Call or text (260) 255-6432
If you’re in danger right now, don’t wait for a consultation. Call or text 988, text HOME to 741741, call Parkview Behavioral Health at (260) 373-7500, or call 911. Unwilted Counseling does not provide 24/7 crisis care.
The Four Skill Areas of DBT Therapy
Psychologist Marsha Linehan developed DBT therapy at the University of Washington to help people with intense, painful emotions. It teaches skills in four areas, each with practical tools you can learn and practice:
Skill Area | What It Helps With | Example Skill |
|---|---|---|
Interpersonal effectiveness | Asking for what you need and setting boundaries | DEAR MAN, a step-by-step way to make requests |
Emotion regulation | Understanding emotions and making them less intense over time | Checking the facts before reacting |
Distress tolerance | Getting through a crisis without making it worse | STOP: stop, take a step back, observe, proceed mindfully |
Mindfulness | Noticing what’s happening without being swept away | “Wise mind,” balancing emotion and logic |
The “dialectical” part means holding two truths at once. For example: “I’m doing the best I can, and I can still learn to do things differently.” That balance of acceptance and change runs through everything in DBT therapy.
What Using a Skill Looks Like in Real Life
Here’s how DBT therapy skills might play out on a hard night:
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9:40 p.m. A fight with a parent ends with a slammed door. The urge to do something you’ll regret is strong.
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9:42 p.m. You notice the urge and name it: “I’m at a nine out of ten right now.”
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9:45 p.m. Instead of acting, you use distress tolerance skills, like the STOP skill and slow, paced breathing, to bring your body down.
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10:05 p.m. The wave passes. You’re still upset, but you’re able to think again.
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Next session. You and Destina look at what happened, what worked, and how to use interpersonal skills for the next conversation with your parent.
Skills don’t erase hard feelings. Instead, they help you get through them without adding new problems.
DBT-Informed Therapy vs. a Full DBT Program
It’s important to know what Unwilted offers. Comprehensive DBT, the version studied in major research, usually includes weekly individual therapy, a weekly skills group, phone coaching between sessions, and a therapist consultation team. However, Unwilted Counseling is a solo practice that provides DBT-informed individual therapy.
What Research Shows About DBT Therapy
DBT therapy is the first well-established, research-supported treatment for reducing self-harm in high-risk teens, according to a major trial’s authors. In a 2018 trial published in JAMA Psychiatry, Elizabeth McCauley and colleagues studied 173 adolescents ages 12 to 18 who had attempted suicide and self-harmed repeatedly. Compared with supportive therapy, comprehensive DBT led to fewer suicide attempts and less self-harm over six months of treatment.
That study tested a full DBT program, not DBT-informed therapy. Still, therapists widely use the skills at the heart of DBT therapy in individual sessions, because they give young people concrete tools for intense emotions.
Concerns Treated With DBT Therapy Skills
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Self-harm urges and emotional crises, through self-harm and emotional regulation therapy
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Intense or fast-changing emotions, through emotion regulation counseling
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Impulsive choices and acting before thinking, through teen impulsivity therapy
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Mood swings and depression, through depression and mood disorder counseling
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Conflict, boundaries, and people-pleasing, through relationship counseling
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Anxiety and overwhelm, through anxiety and depression therapy
About Your Therapist
Destina founded Unwilted Counseling in 2024 and is the only therapist on staff, so every session is with her. She works exclusively with teens and young adults ages 13 to 25. Since 2019, she has supported young people in community mental health and social service settings.
Her background includes a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. She’s EMDR trained, IFS-informed, and has completed ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), which is especially relevant for safety planning. She’s an Indiana Licensed Mental Health Counselor (license #39005463A) and a member of the National Board for Certified Counselors. She doesn’t prescribe medication but can coordinate with your prescriber.
DBT Therapy for Teens: Notes for Parents
When your teen’s emotions explode or shut down, it’s natural to feel scared or shut out. So DBT therapy skills give your family a shared language, like “I’m in emotional mind right now,” that can make hard moments at home easier to talk about.
For clients ages 13 to 17, parents meet with Destina briefly at intake and receive general progress updates. Your teen’s specific words stay confidential, except when safety is a concern. With your teen’s agreement, a parent may join a session to learn how to support skills at home. See how Unwilted works with teens and young adults.
Quick Answers About Sessions and Fees
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Where are sessions held? At 3514 Stellhorn Rd., Fort Wayne, IN 46815, with free parking and accessible facilities. Clients come from Fort Wayne, Allen County, New Haven, Huntertown, and Leo-Cedarville.
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Can I meet online? Yes. Sessions use encrypted video in your browser, with no download and no recording. You need to be in Indiana or an eligible part of Ohio, through the Counseling Compact. You can also switch between online and in-person sessions. Learn more about virtual therapy.
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When are appointments available? Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday, 3 to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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How much does it cost? The 50-minute intake assessment is $160, and ongoing 50-minute sessions are $135. Intensives cost $202.50 for 75 minutes, $270 for 100 minutes, and $405 for 150 minutes.
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Do you take insurance? No. Unwilted is private pay, but superbills are available for possible out-of-network reimbursement. You can pay by card, HSA or FSA card, cash, check, or the client portal.
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What else should I know? You can request a Good Faith Estimate under the No Surprises Act. Cancellations need 48 hours’ notice, but Unwilted waives the late fee if you reschedule within the same week.
How to Begin DBT Therapy
Free consultation → intake forms → first assessment → ongoing sessions.
Start by calling, texting, emailing, or using the contact form, and expect a reply within 24 business hours. Next, secure intake forms arrive about 48 hours before your first visit and take 15 to 20 minutes. Then your first session is a 50-minute assessment, which includes a safety plan if needed. After that, sessions usually run weekly, then every other week or monthly as your skills grow.
Frequently Asked Questions
About CBT Therapy
No. DBT therapy was first developed for people with borderline personality disorder and chronic suicidal thoughts, but its skills now help with many concerns. These include self-harm, intense anger, mood swings, impulsivity, and relationship conflict. You don’t need any diagnosis to benefit from learning DBT therapy skills.
DBT grew out of CBT, so they share a focus on practical skills. However, DBT adds a strong emphasis on acceptance, mindfulness, and tolerating distress. CBT often focuses on changing thoughts, while DBT also teaches you to accept painful moments while you work on change.
No. Unwilted Counseling offers one-on-one, DBT-informed therapy, not group sessions or a comprehensive DBT program. If you or your teen need a full program with group skills training and phone coaching, Destina can discuss that option during your consultation and help you find appropriate care.
Many people start using basic skills within the first few weeks, but making them automatic during intense moments usually takes a few months of practice. Your pace depends on your goals, how often you practice, and what else you’re working on in therapy.
Yes. Skills teaching and practice planning work well over secure video. Many teens and young adults find it easier to practice skills when they learn them in their own space. Virtual sessions are available anywhere in Indiana and in eligible parts of Ohio.
Good Faith Estimate: Clients paying privately have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate explaining expected costs of care. You may request this prior to scheduling.
Get Support for Overwhelming Emotions
You don’t have to keep white-knuckling your way through every hard moment. Book a free 15-minute consultation with Destina to see if DBT-informed therapy fits your needs. Contact Unwilted Counseling, or call or text (260) 255-6432.
