Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence based therapy originally developed to assist people with borderline personality disorder in managing their lives more effectively. Since it’s development, research has shown that DBT is an effective treatment modality for many other concerns. Currently DBT is used to treat concerns such as: trauma, substance use/abuse, personality disorders, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, self-harm, and chronic instability in interpersonal relationships. Dialectical behavior therapy can be implemented at varying levels of intensity, such as in skills training groups, DBT informed interventions in individual therapy, to long term individual and group programs adhering to the full model of therapy.
At it’s core, DBT is a treatment for shame. Often in life people are born with high levels of emotional intensity or sensitivity. While the depth of this emotional experience has many strengths, including the capability for creativity, compassion, empathy, and deep connection to others, when such a person is born into an environment that is cold and invalidating the emotional wounds run deep and can be carried for years or even decades. DBT is a therapy that provides validation, support, empathy, and understanding while impacting tangible tools for creating a life worth living. Individuals participating in DBT can expect to learn skills in: mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. Our clinicians are trained in DBT under the Linehan certification board and are prepared to partner with you on your journey.
