I've been lurking SP, but quiet as things have been difficult for me. I can at least try to answer based on my experience with DBT.

1. Yes. It will be skills oriented, but DBT is about validating your emotions and then recognizing triggers, behaviors that interfere with long term goals, and helping you build the skills necessary to help work through all of that.

2. They're not cold. At least, the one's I've interacted with aren't. My T cares a great deal about me and has expressed that numerous times. I consulted with a colleague of his and she said the same thing, "Your T really cares about you." When talking with a couple of other DBT Ts who run my current group, I mentioned how far I drove and that I was rather attached my my T. They both laughed and said they get it, and that Ts get pretty attached to their clients too.

My T says the philosophy of DBT is "a collaborative effort between equals."

I've interacted, at this point, with five different DBT Ts with one being my primary, three being in a group setting, and one being a consult. Whether or not my personality clicked, I've found each respectful, validating, and thoughtful in dealing with me.