SCIENCEWORKS
BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE
Edited and reviewed:
August 11, 2026
Reviewed by:
Complete Care for all Neurotypes
Therapy | Assessments | Coaching
DBT FOR BPD IN TENNESSEE
DBT for borderline personality disorder in Tennessee
Dialectical behavior therapy for borderline personality disorder, from licensed Tennessee clinicians — telehealth statewide or in person in Nashville.
Emotion arrives at full volume, fast
IS DBT FOR BPD RIGHT FOR YOU?
A good fit if emotion regulation is the actual work
Structured DBT skills training with a trained clinician
Emotion regulation and distress tolerance you can use today
An honest read on whether BPD, ADHD, or autism fits best
Licensed Providers
Telehealth Nationwide*
Neuro-affirming
Private & Secure
DBT AND THE BPD DIAGNOSIS
What DBT is for BPD, and why the diagnosis has to be right
Dialectical behavior therapy was developed specifically for borderline personality disorder, and for BPD psychotherapy — not medication — is the primary treatment. That ordering is unusual in mental health care, and it is the point of this page: the skills work is the treatment itself, not a support around one.
DBT teaches four skill sets — mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness — aimed at what tends to hurt most: emotion that arrives at full volume, relationships that swing between too close and too far, and a sense of self that keeps moving. Many people arrive still unsure whether BPD is the right name for it, because ADHD and autism share parts of that picture. Getting that distinction right changes the plan, so we would rather settle it than treat the wrong thing well.
KEY STATISTICS ABOUT BPD AND TREATMENT
1.4%
of U.S. adults had borderline personality disorder in a year
Source:
84.5%
of adults with BPD had another mental disorder that year
Source:
42.4%
of adults with BPD received mental health treatment that year
Source:
WHAT TO EXPECT
Clear about the diagnosis, then the work
1
Free 15-minute consult.
We hear what is happening and answer your questions.
2
3
Structured skills work by telehealth statewide, or in person in Nashville.
If the diagnosis is unsettled, we say so and talk through assessment.
Clarify the picture.
Weekly DBT skills sessions.
Payment options
As a specialty practice, we're out-of-network so we can offer the most effective, customized services.
Our payment options are transparent and flexible:
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Self-Pay: All major credit cards; FSA/HSA eligible
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Payment Plans: 6-months interest-free for approved clients via CareCredit
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Superbills Provided
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Out-of-Network: Up to 90% reimbursement for qualifying plans
WHO YOU'LL WORK WITH
Specialized, supervised, clinically reviewed
Your DBT work is delivered by licensed Tennessee clinicians trained in dialectical behavior therapy, working alongside our assessment team. That pairing matters here: when the diagnosis is the open question, we can answer it properly rather than treating around it.
Dr. Kiesa Kelly (she/her)
Owner & Psychologist
Ryan Burns (he/him)
Practice Director
WHY CLIENTS CHOOSE SCIENCEWORKS
Direct treatment, honestly scoped
DBT is not a workaround for BPD. It is the therapy the diagnosis was studied with, and we deliver it as the treatment, not as a supplement.
Because we are independent and out-of-network, we can say plainly when a diagnosis needs a second look before treatment planning goes any further.
Care is neurodivergent-affirming and delivered by secure telehealth across Tennessee, or in person at our Nashville office.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Common questions
Is DBT actually the treatment for BPD?
Yes. Dialectical behavior therapy was developed specifically for borderline personality disorder, and psychotherapy is the primary treatment for it. Medication is not a first-line treatment for BPD, though a prescriber may add one for a co-occurring condition. ScienceWorks does not prescribe.
How do I know it is BPD and not ADHD or autism?
You may not yet, and that is worth taking seriously. The emotional-intensity picture overlaps, and BPD commonly co-occurs with other conditions. That is answered by a proper assessment, not a symptom checklist, and if the diagnosis is unsettled we say so before building a plan around it.
Is DBT for BPD available online or in person?
Both. ScienceWorks delivers DBT skills work by secure telehealth to adults and teens anywhere in Tennessee, and in person at our Nashville office. We review fees, scheduling, and out-of-network reimbursement options before you commit.
*Therapy and assessments available in the following states (coaching available worldwide):
Work with us locally:
AL, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, ID, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, ME, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WV, WI, WY
2603 Elm Hill Pike, Suite C
Nashville, TN 37214
Disclaimer: This page provides general educational information and is not a substitute for mental health diagnosis or treatment. Reading this page does not create a therapist–client relationship with ScienceWorks Behavioral Healthcare. If you are in crisis or may be at risk of harm to yourself or others, call 911, go to your nearest emergency room, or call/text 988 (U.S.). Additional emergency support can be found here: Emergency Resources.