DBT for Mental Health

What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of talk therapy. It helps you manage intense emotions and reduce conflict in relationships. If you may find DBT useful if you feel things very strongly or have difficulty controlling your reactions.

During DBT, you and your therapist will work on developing the following skills:

1. Core Mindfulness: Mindfulness helps you stay focused on the present moment. You learn to observe your thoughts without getting caught up in them.
2. Interpersonal Effectiveness: Interpersonal skills allow you to better communicate with others. Your therapist will help you learn to ask for what you need and say no when necessary. The goal is to strengthen relationships while maintaining boundaries.
3. Distress Tolerance: Everyone faces difficult situations. DBT helps you cope with challenges, without making them worse. Distress tolerance skills allow you to accept reality, even when it's tough.
4. Emotional Regulation: These skills help you understand and manage your emotions. You'll learn to identify feelings and change them when needed.

DBT happens in four stages:

1. The beginning: You and your therapist will address self-destructive and serious behaviors, such as self-harm or suicide ideation.
2. Quality of life: During stage 2, your therapist will help you develop coping and emotional regulation skills, to improve the quality of your life.
3. Relationships: In the third stage, you'll work on building your self-esteem and improving interpersonal relationships.
4. Pursuing life goals: In the final stage, you'll work on making the most of your life, maximizing your happiness, and strengthening your relationships.

By working through the four stages and practicing the skill sets, you can better handle life's ups and downs.

Our DBT Therapy Services

Banyan Mental Health offers DBT in various forms.

Individual DBT Therapy

Individual therapy pairs you with a therapist for one-on-one sessions. Your therapist will help you identify patterns in your thoughts and behaviors, and develop strategies to manage them. 

Group DBT Skills Training

During group sessions, you have the opportunity to work with people facing similar challenges. You'll learn and practice DBT skills in a supportive environment. 

Group work allows you to see how others use these skills, share experiences, and gain different perspectives. It's a powerful way to reinforce what you're learning and feel less alone in your journey.

Phone Coaching

Sometimes, you need support between sessions. That's where phone coaching comes in. You can reach out to your therapist for brief guidance on using DBT skills in real-life situations. This immediate support helps you apply what you're learning when it matters most.

Family DBT Skills Training

Your loved ones may benefit from learning DBT skills alongside you. Family therapy creates a shared understanding, which can improve communication and support at home.

Benefits of Dialectical Behavior Therapy

If other therapies haven't helped, consider DBT. It's a particularly effective therapy technique for the following:

• Bipolar disorder
• Borderline personality disorder
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Self-injury
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Substance use disorder
• Thoughts of suicide

DBT is effective for the above conditions because they are associated with intense and usually negative emotions. At the heart of the treatment is learning how to cope with challenges in a healthy way. 

During DBT, you'll learn:

• How to accept your life: Your therapist will teach you strategies to help you accept your situations, emotions, and self. You'll also build skills that allow you to change your behavior and communication.
• How to recognize destructive behaviors: DBT teaches you how to analyze negative behavioral patterns and replace them with healthier ones.
• How to change your beliefs: Negative beliefs can bring you down. DBT focuses on helping you change negative thought patterns or harmful beliefs.
• How to communicate effectively: Whether in individual, group, or family therapy, you'll learn effective communication skills and how to work as a team.
• How to boost your capabilities: Your therapist will help you put your newly learned skills into practice.
• How to recognize the positive: You'll learn how to support and encourage yourself by recognizing all that you have to offer the world.