In a world where mental health resources often feel cold or inaccessible, DBT Path LLC, an online skills-training school founded by Debbie DeMarco Bennett, is providing a vital space for emotionally sensitive people to learn life-changing skills. Using the principles of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), DBT Path offers a compassionate, judgment-free space to build resilience, improve relationships, and take control of their emotional well-being.
Founded in 2013, DBT Path—the first and original online DBT skills class—was created as a response to the personal journey of its founder. As someone who once struggled with the intense emotional pain of borderline personality disorder (BPD), Debbie knows firsthand the challenges that come with navigating the world when emotional sensitivity feels overwhelming. She saw how hard it can be to access care when traditional systems are overcrowded, impersonal, and overburdened with long waitlists.
Additionally, recognizing that forced interaction (whether in-person or online) can feel daunting for emotionally sensitive individuals, Debbie envisioned a program where participation is flexible, on-camera interaction is optional, and support is always human, not handed off to a chatbot. Now in full recovery and no longer meeting the diagnosis for BPD, Debbie turned her healing journey into a mission to help others find peace, balance, and hope on their own terms.
“The heart of DBT Path is rooted in my own story,” says Debbie DeMarco Bennett. “I saw the impact of integrating DBT skills into my life and felt determined to make it my mission to teach others to integrate the skills into their lives. That’s how DBT Path was born. As DBT’s founder Dr. Marsha Linehan might say, teaching at DBT Path has become the focus of my ‘life worth living,’ my purpose, and that’s what we help people find here.”
DBT Path’s approach stands apart. It’s not just about learning DBT skills—it’s about experiencing genuine validation. Grounded in both clinical understanding and lived experience, the program’s psychoeducational format fosters a warm, supportive environment where students can practice at their own pace without fear of judgment. For those who value their privacy—whether public figures, professionals, or anyone who would never feel safe in a group therapy setting—DBT Path offers a secure space, with a private forum where even an alias can be used, and there’s no need to wait weeks or months for access.
While many online mental health programs can feel sterile or impersonal, DBT Path actively works to change this narrative. The program is designed to be accessible, offering a convenient online format that allows students to engage with the material in ways that suit their unique needs and schedules. Students receive weekly lessons, opportunities for optional interactive practice, and personalized feedback on their homework, ensuring that they feel seen and supported every step of the way.
DBT Path offers a consistent and committed teaching team and a compassionate support model. In many other programs, students may encounter a rotating cast of coaches or facilitators, leading to a disjointed experience where the style, tone, and even the understanding of the skills can vary significantly from one teacher to the next. For emotionally sensitive individuals, this lack of continuity can feel unsettling and disruptive. And, emotionally sensitive people can intuitively sense when programs are facilitated by staff who aren’t fully invested in them, as is, unfortunately, typical on large platforms driven by profit, not healing at the forefront. In contrast, at DBT Path, students are met with the same supportive, knowledgeable team, who are deeply, personally invested in the skills, throughout their journey—ensuring a stable, cohesive experience grounded in a shared trauma-informed understanding of emotional sensitivity.
Further, “you don’t have to have BPD, trauma, or any other diagnosis to benefit from DBT skills. These are skills that everyone can use these days. You just have to be human and hurting, or simply wanting more emotional resilience,” says Debbie. This inclusive mindset is central to DBT Path’s mission. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. It’s a thoughtful, real-world toolkit for people who feel deeply, think deeply, and often struggle to find their place in a world that can feel too harsh. It creates a space where emotionally sensitive individuals can find the tools they need to make meaningful change in their lives. “Our students aren’t just names on a roster. They’re people with real stories, and we walk with them every step of the way.”
The program has resonated with people worldwide, many of whom have struggled to find the validation and support they need in traditional therapy or mental health programs. DBT Path’s ability to blend warmth, understanding, and structure has made it a beacon of hope for those who feel lost or unsupported in their mental health journey.
Debbie’s dedication to creating and fostering a healing-centered community is reflected in the success of DBT Path. Students often share how much the human element matters: being taught by someone who truly “gets it” and who models what recovery can look like. For many, DBT Path has become not just an educational tool but a life-changing experience that validates their emotions and empowers them to move forward.
“There’s something powerful about being taught by someone who’s been there and has come out the other side,” Debbie notes. “The journey of recovery is often challenging, but it’s not one you have to walk alone. At DBT Path, we help you build the skills to navigate life’s challenges and support you every step of the way. I’m delighted to sometimes receive email updates from students years after they’ve taken the course, telling us how our team made a difference in their healing.”
Her passion for helping others heal doesn’t stop with DBT Path—it extends into her published work as well. Debbie is also the author of two books published by New Harbinger Publications: Stronger Than BPD written under her pen name, Debbie Corso, and The Stronger Than BPD Journal, written with licensed therapist Dr. Kathryn Holt, PhD, LCSW. Both have earned praise for their compassionate voice and actionable guidance, offering practical support to readers navigating emotional sensitivity. Her insights have also been featured in Psychology Today, where her unique blend of personal and professional experience continues to resonate with readers.
While her books have touched readers around the world, it’s through her program that Debbie’s mission has truly come to life in real time. Her creation of DBT Path is a testament to the power of lived experience in mental health education. By creating a space where people can learn and grow without fear of judgment, she and her dedicated team have helped thousands of students build lives worth living for well over a decade. For Debbie, it’s not just about teaching skills—it’s about offering hope to those who may feel overwhelmed or alone.
“I created DBT Path because I understand what it’s like to feel misunderstood, to feel like you’re not enough, or that you’ll never be able to manage your emotions,” Debbie reflects. “But I can tell you from personal experience: healing is possible. And you don’t have to do it alone.”
It’s clear that DBT Path is more than an online course. It’s a revolution in how we approach mental wellness—with warmth, humanity, and a deep respect for the emotional lives of those often overlooked. With over a decade of impact, DBT Path has helped thousands of students reclaim their sense of worth and agency.
In a mental health landscape that can sometimes feel clinical and detached, DBT Path offers a radical alternative: hope grounded in authenticity, healing rooted in compassion, and an education that changes lives.
To learn more about DBT Path and how to enroll, visit https://emotionallysensitive.com.
Follow DBT Path on social media:
