At Coastal DBT, we truly believe that DBT is for everyone who needs it. That’s why we bring on therapists who have special experience with all kinds of people and situations. And if we don’t already know about your particular background or struggles, we promise to learn—so you never feel like you have to explain everything from scratch.
So… what exactly is DBT? DBT stands for Dialectical Behavior Therapy. It’s a very practical, skills-based kind of therapy created by Dr. Marsha Linehan. It was designed for people whose emotions feel really big, fast, and overwhelming—like they come on strong and sometimes lead to intense reactions, self-harm urges, anger outbursts, impulsive choices, or feeling completely stuck in relationships.
The “dialectical” part simply means we hold two important truths at the same time:
Acceptance: Your feelings are real and valid. Your struggles make complete sense given what you’ve been through. You are not broken or “too much.”
Change: At the same time, we can learn concrete tools to handle those emotions better, make wiser choices in the moment, and slowly build a life that feels meaningful and worth living.
It’s not just “talk about your feelings” therapy. DBT is hands-on and research-backed. Studies show it really helps cut down on crises, self-harm, hospital visits, and that constant feeling of emotional chaos.
Here at Coastal DBT, we offer the full, complete version of DBT (sometimes called “comprehensive” or “adherent” DBT). We follow the exact structure Dr. Linehan created—no shortcuts—because that’s what works best for serious emotional struggles. We’re based in South Carolina, but we provide everything virtually (through secure video), so you can join from anywhere in the state without having to drive anywhere.
Here’s what the program actually looks like:
Weekly individual therapy: You’ll have your own personal DBT therapist (like me or another intensively trained member of our team). We meet one-on-one to talk about your week, look at what triggered tough moments (using a simple diary card you fill out), make sure safety comes first, and coach you on using your new skills in real life.
Weekly DBT skills group: Think of this as a practical class with other adults who are working on the same things. It’s virtual and structured. We teach four main skill areas step-by-step:
Mindfulness (staying present without beating yourself up)
Distress Tolerance (getting through a crisis without making it worse)
Emotion Regulation (understanding and gently turning down those intense feelings over time)
Interpersonal Effectiveness (asking for what you need, saying no, and keeping relationships healthy) We do homework review, role-plays, and use the official handouts. Group is for learning skills—not for sharing everyone’s personal stories (that stays in your individual sessions).
Phone coaching: Life doesn’t wait for your next appointment. If you’re in a tough moment and about to do something impulsive or harmful, you can call or message your therapist for short, skill-focused coaching to help you get through it safely using what you’ve learned.
Therapist consultation team: Behind the scenes, our whole team meets every week. All of us have been intensively trained by Behavioral Tech (the top DBT training organization). We support each other, stay true to the model, and make sure every client gets consistent, high-quality care.
We keep everything warm, nonjudgmental, collaborative, and focused on you building a life worth living. Whether you’re dealing with overwhelming emotions, relationship struggles, a history of self-harm, or just feel like your emotions are running the show, our program gives you more structure and real tools than regular talk therapy usually can.
We start with a thoughtful assessment to make sure full DBT is the right fit for you, and we explain everything clearly upfront. Yes, it’s a commitment—usually at least 6 to 12 months to go through the full cycle—but for so many people, it’s the thing that finally helps everything start to feel steadier and more manageable.
Bottom line: At Coastal DBT we offer the complete, proven DBT toolkit delivered with heart, virtually from anywhere in South Carolina. It’s straightforward, skill-based, and it works when you stick with it.
Hi, I’m Sarah!
I’m the Program Director at Coastal DBT, and I work as both a DBT therapist and a DBT skills trainer.
What matters most is that I’m intensively trained in DBT through the Behavioral Tech Institute—the organization founded by Dr. Marsha Linehan herself. I also have experience doing psychological assessments, including personality testing and intellectual functioning evaluations.
I’ve worked with all kinds of wonderful people from many different backgrounds. A couple of areas where my heart and expertise really shine are:
Using DBT with people struggling with substance abuse (this comes from a personal place—I’ve been in my own recovery since May 16, 2011).
Supporting Christian clients and those healing from church trauma (I also have some experience with cult-related trauma and hold that work with a lot of care).
I have a Master’s degree and extensive doctoral training in Counselor Education and Supervision. That training sharpened my skills in assessment and treatment planning, gave me deep knowledge of evidence-based therapies, and helped me grow both as a scientist of human behavior and as a more compassionate person—especially after working with disadvantaged populations, including people in prison and those recently released.
When trauma work is needed, I’m trained in EMDR and DBT Prolonged Exposure (DBT PE), and I always choose whatever feels safest and most helpful for you.
Right now I’m excitedly learning DBT for children, and diving into how DBT can help with eating disorders and OCD. I’m also working toward full certification with the DBT-Linehan Board of Certification (right now only six people in all of South Carolina have it).
If this sounds like it might be a good fit for you, I’d love to hear from you. You can reach me directly at Sarah.Leitner@CoastalDBT.com or call me at (803) 525-4085.
I’m truly honored to walk alongside people on their healing journeys, and I look forward to the possibility of meeting you.
Warmly, Sarah