SCIENCEWORKS
BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE
Edited and reviewed:
August 11, 2026
Reviewed by:
Complete Care for all Neurotypes
Therapy | Assessments | Coaching
DBT SKILLS FOR TRAUMA
DBT skills for trauma and PTSD in Tennessee
Dialectical behavior therapy skills that steady overwhelming emotion after trauma — licensed Tennessee clinicians, telehealth or in person in Nashville.
Talking about the trauma flooded you
IS DBT FOR TRAUMA RIGHT FOR YOU?
A good fit if emotion, not memory, is the harder part
Distress tolerance and grounding skills you can use in the moment
Emotion regulation work before or alongside trauma processing
Weekly sessions with a clinician trained in DBT skills and trauma care
Licensed Providers
Telehealth Nationwide*
Neuro-affirming
Private & Secure
WHERE DBT FITS IN TRAUMA CARE
What DBT does for trauma — and what it does not
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a skills-based approach for people whose emotions run hot, fast, or numb. It is not a trauma-processing protocol — the therapies that work directly on traumatic memory are prolonged exposure and trauma-focused CBT. What DBT adds is the emotional footing that makes that work survivable.
You learn four skill sets — mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness — and practice them in daily life. For trauma, distress tolerance and emotion regulation carry the most weight: staying grounded through a flashback, riding out an urge, coming back from shutdown. At ScienceWorks, DBT skills are used before trauma-focused therapy, alongside it, or on their own when processing is not what you need right now.
KEY STATISTICS ABOUT TRAUMA AND PTSD
1 in 2
U.S. adults will experience at least one traumatic event
Source:
5 in 100
U.S. adults have PTSD in any given year
Source:
36.6%
of adults with past-year PTSD had serious impairment
Source:
WHAT TO EXPECT
Skills first, at a pace you set
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.
You are paired with a provider trained in DBT skills and trauma-informed care.
Matched with a DBT clinician.
Weekly 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
-
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 skills work is delivered by licensed providers trained in dialectical behavior therapy and trauma-informed care. We match you with a clinician who can hold both — the skills work itself, and an honest read on when trauma-focused therapy is the better next step.
Dr. Kiesa Kelly (she/her)
Owner & Psychologist
Ryan Burns (he/him)
Practice Director
WHY CLIENTS CHOOSE SCIENCEWORKS
Honest about what DBT can and cannot do
Because we are independent and out-of-network, we can recommend the trauma treatment that actually fits — including one we do not deliver ourselves.
You are matched with a clinician trained in DBT skills and trauma-informed care, who will say plainly when trauma-focused work is the better step.
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 an actual treatment for PTSD?
DBT is not a first-line trauma protocol — prolonged exposure and trauma-focused CBT hold that place. DBT is a skills approach that builds emotion regulation and distress tolerance, which is why many people use it before or alongside trauma-focused work rather than instead of it.
Is DBT for trauma available online or in person?
Both. ScienceWorks delivers DBT skills for trauma by secure telehealth to adults and teens anywhere in Tennessee, and in person at our Nashville office. Many people prefer telehealth because you practice the skills where you actually need them.
How long does DBT for trauma take, and what about fees?
Timelines vary with your goals and how much practice happens between sessions; many people work in a course of weekly skills sessions. ScienceWorks is out-of-network, so we review fees, scheduling, and 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.