DBT Therapy

Do you feel your mind is being pulled in a hundred different chaotic directions at once? Do you have a hard time handling some of your emotions? Does this cause problems in your relationships?

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) offers comprehensive skills to manage painful memories and emotions while decreasing relationship conflicts. This modality focuses on 4 specific areas:

• Mindfulness –  Helps individuals be present and aware "in the moment".
• Distress tolerance – Increases tolerance of negative emotions and builds confidence with "handling it".
• Emotion regulation – Manages the intense emotions that are often the root cause of problems. 
• Interpersonal effectiveness – Builds confidence, communication skills and strengthens relationships.

How Does DBT Work Exactly?

Uncontrollable negative emotions can exist right under our awareness. These emotions affect how we feel about ourselves and how we interact with other people, including friends, romantic partners and family members.

DBT teaches skills to help people manage negative emotions so they can feel balanced, in control, and able to interact respectfully and successfully. The message at the heart of DBT is acceptance and change.

When is DBT Used and What Can You Expect?

Dialectical behavioral therapy was initially developed to treat those with borderline personality disorder but research shows that DBT can successfully treat people with depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, eating disorders, and substance abuse. 

Traditional DBT treatment in a mental health clinic or hospital usually consists of a combination of individual, group and family therapy. I teach DBT-informed individual therapy sessions which allow you to have one-on-one support with a DBT trained therapist. I will show you how to apply DBT skills to your daily life so you can manage difficult situations. I will keep you motivated to practice these skills.