Welcome to the Asia Pacific DBT Institute

Providing Leadership in
DBT & Radically Open DBT

Initially established as the Australian DBT Institute in 2004, the Asia Pacific DBT Institute is a specialist DBT and RO DBT service. We provide Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and Radically Open DBT through our DBT Clinics in Melbourne, Phuket, and online. We are Australia's and the Asia Pacific Region's longest established provider of education, mentoring and development of mental health professionals in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). Since 2022 we have been collaborating with Radically Open Ltd to train and develop mental health professionals in Radically Open DBT and deliver clinical services through our DBT Clinics.

INTENSIVE INDIVIDUAL & FAMILY RETREATS

INTENSIVE RETREATS IN THAILAND AND URBAN RETREATS IN BANGKOK AND SYDNEY!

The Asia Pacific DBT Institute's Individual and Family Retreat Programs have been running since 2010! Our program supports individuals and their families to gain vital stabilisation strategies through an intensive retreat outside the individual's and/or family's usual environment.

Our Clinical Services

DBT Clinics in Melbourne, Sydney, Phuket & Online!

We have led high-fidelity DBT programs since 2004 through the Essentia Health Clinics in Melbourne, Sydney, Phuket, and online via Telehealth. The Asia Pacific DBT Institute’s adapted approach includes a baseline assessment of over-control and under-control coping to best determine the most suitable therapeutic approach (RO DBT for maladaptive over-control presentations and DBT for maladaptive under-control presentations) in our clinical and teaching programs. Our approach is compatible with Australian Health Care standards, providing consumers and health professionals alike with a DBT approach that is both trauma-informed and recovery-focused. Our clinical programs have included comprehensive DBT, Radically Open DBT, as well as modified DBT programs for specific populations, including youth, carers, Indigenous Australians, correctional settings, and psychiatric emergency settings.

DBT

DBT is an evidence based therapeutic approach that targets maladaptive undercontrol.

RO DBT

Radically Open DBT is an evidence based therapeutic approach that targets maladaptive overcontrol.

DBT CLINICS

Our DBT clinics provide clients access to DBT, Radically Open DBT & Safe Trauma Therapy!

TRAINING

Educating over 1,000 professionals annually in DBT, RO DBT & Trauma Therapy Approaches!

2026 CPD Retreat for Mental Health Professionals

The Asia Pacific DBT Institute's Annual CPD Retreat is in Phuket, Thailand, from 9 to 15 July 2026.
This CPD retreat includes up to 9 days' accommodation, Thai and Western meals, airport transfers, and 40 CPD hours!

Asia Pacific DBT Institute's Services

DBT Workshops

Since 2004 the Asia Pacific DBT Institute has delivered professional development workshops throughout the Asia Pacific Region. Our workshops include Foundations in DBT, Essentials in DBT and DBT Comprehensive Training Programs.
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DBT Clinics

Our DBT Clinics are fee-for-service clinics with DBT & RO DBT credentialed practitioners who offer DBT & RO DBT skills classes and individual therapy. Our clinics are located in Melbourne, Sydney, Phuket and online!

DBT Retreats

Our DBT Retreats provide a structured, supportive environment where individuals and families can learn practical skills for managing emotions, improving relationships, and building a life worth living. The Asia Pacific DBT Institute's Annual CPD Retreat is held at our Wise Mind Retreat in Phuket, Thailand, each July!
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Workplace Training

The Asia Pacific DBT Institute provides training to a range of mental health and community based services each year. Our programs range from one day workshops to Zoom based webinars and all the way to full program implementation training.

Supervision

The Asia Pacific DBT Supervision program has been running since 2010 with our practitioners offering a range of supervision options from individual supervision to consultation teams and group supervision arrangements.
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Consultancy

We have developed a range of mental health service models in addition to DBT and RO DBT Services. Our consultancy has included program development in forensic, public mental health, community based services, and private health.
Asia Pacific DBT Institute's DBT & RO DBT approach!

Are your clients presenting as OC or UC?

The Asia Pacific DBT Institute's research into the effectiveness of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) uncovered the need for an approach that targeted a whole population of clients who found that DBT was not meeting expectations. So rather than offering DBT as a one size fits all solution, the DBT Institute has developed our recommended approach that now includes three seperate therapeutic approaches for three distinct client populations.

  • Individuals presenting with maldative under control the recommend approach is trauma informed Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT-TI).
  • Individuals presenting with maldative over control the recommend approach is Radically Open Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (RO DBT)
  • Individuals presenting with complex trauma presentations the recommended approach is Stabilisation Based Therapy.

Why Assess for OC & UC?

Assessing an individual's coping style before commencing a DBT or Radically Open DBT program can help identify usual coping patterns, informing the identification of the most appropriate therapeutic intervention, and contribute to a better understanding of how an individual manages stress and challenges.

What is a OC presentation?

Diagnostic presentations such as refractory depression, autism, anorexia nervosa and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder are considered the spectrum of disorders characterised by excessive inhibitory control or overcontrol (OC). Radically Open DBT is an evidence based therapeutic approach that targets maladaptive overcontrol.

What is a UC presentation?

Diagnostic presentations such as borderline personality disorder, substance misuse disorders, binge eating, ADHD, and bipolar are considered the spectrum of disorders characterised by emotion dysregulation or undercontrol (UC). DBT is an evidence based therapeutic approach that targets maladaptive undercontrol.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Asia Pacific DBT's approach evidence based?

Yes, there is evidence for all three of our therapeutic approaches with DBT and RO DBT also supported by the research rigor of Randomised Clinical Trials. Our trauma informed approach has been validated by Ph.D. research, treatment outcome measures and is informed by the Somatic Trauma Therapy approach documented in Babette Rothschild's text The Body Remembers

Is your team intensively trained?

Our team's leadership have been intensively trained in DBT by Beahvioral Tech LLC and intensively trained in RO DBT by Radically Open Ltd. In addition, our team has been intensively trained in Somatic Trauma Therapy through Babette Rothschild.

Are you a government funded organisation?

No, we are a private organisation. Our structure follows that of leading international training and development organisations of therapeutic approaches. We do hold contracts with a number of government agencies however remain independent and committed to the development of the mental health sector in the use of DBT, RO DBT and Safe Trauma Therapy approaches. 

Our Mission

Through collaboration, education, and innovation, we aim to make a positive impact on the lives of individuals facing mental ill health, supporting individuals in a journey towards resilience, recovery, and a meaningful life.

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