Our therapists offer DBT / dialectical behavior therapy in Athens, GA

I enjoy teaching practical tools to help clients manage intense emotions and make positive changes to their lives; my go-to approach for clients in dialectical behavior therapy is psychoeducation. Working closely with clients, I gather a robust understanding of their problems and symptoms and together, we develop an individualized DBT toolbox to help reduce or eliminate their symptoms.

My go-to approaches for helping people in dialectical behavior therapy are mindfulness skills and distress tolerance skills. I prefer DBT because there are only 4 pillars that are covered in DBT: distress tolerance, mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, and emotion regulation.

I've trained and educated clients navigating substance use, severe depression, and suicidal ideation on the four core modules of DBT: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Facilitating groups as large as 40 individuals, I've taught DBT techniques, which include:

• TIPP
• ABC PLEASE
• Half Smile
• Validation
• STOP
• DEAR MAN
• HALT
• Thought defusion
• Wise Mind
• RESISTT Techniques
• Recognizing emotional crisis
• Emotions & cognitive vulnerability
• Problem-solving
• Coping ahead
• Modulating emotional intensity
• Assertiveness
• Interpersonal rights
• And much more

I teach the following tools in DBT: distress tolerance skills, mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, and emotion regulation skills.

Emotional regulation, the development of an emotionally safe environment, the establishment and enforcement of boundaries, as well as a strong sense of self are key indicators I see when clients understand and are applying the DBT skills we discuss and teach. The client is more aligned with their core values with more peace.

I know a client is making meaningful progress in DBT when they come to their session and tell me that they had an episode and did not lose their emotions over it.

Outside of individual therapy, I provide clients with homework assignments to help them continue utilizing the skills discussed and taught in sessions.

Clients can supplement their time in dialectical behavior therapy by using the coping skills they are learning in the sessions.

To prepare for their first dialectical behavior therapy session, an individual can journal regarding their apprehension about vulnerability, therapy, or trust. As a clinician, I want to work with the client so they become familiar with labeling and expressing their emotions.

To prepare for their first dialectical behavior therapy session, an individual can research what DBT is and how it can benefit them.