Our therapists offer DBT / dialectical behavior therapy in Colorado Springs, CO

My go-to approach for helping people in dialectical behavior therapy is a combination of validation and skill-building. I prefer this approach because it helps clients feel understood and accepted while equipping them with practical tools to manage their emotions and behaviors effectively.

I teach the following tools in dialectical behavior therapy:

• Mindfulness skills: Helping clients develop awareness of the present moment, observe their thoughts and feelings without judgment, and cultivate mindfulness practices to promote emotional regulation and distress tolerance.
• Emotion regulation skills: Teaching clients techniques to identify and label their emotions, understand the functions of emotions, and learn strategies to manage intense emotions in healthy and adaptive ways.
• Distress tolerance skills: Providing clients with coping strategies to tolerate distressing situations without making impulsive or harmful decisions, including techniques such as distraction, self-soothing, and radical acceptance.
• Interpersonal effectiveness skills: Assisting clients in improving communication, assertiveness, and boundary-setting in their relationships, as well as navigating conflict and seeking to balance their own needs with the needs of others.

I know a client is making meaningful progress in dialectical behavior therapy when they demonstrate increased use of coping skills in managing emotions, improved ability to regulate their behavior in challenging situations, and enhanced communication and interpersonal effectiveness in relationships.

Clients can supplement their time in dialectical behavior therapy with:

• Daily practice of mindfulness exercises to enhance self-awareness and emotional regulation.
• Regular review and reinforcement of DBT skills learned in sessions through self-help workbooks or online resources.
• Engaging in activities that promote distress tolerance and emotion regulation, such as exercise, hobbies, or relaxation techniques.
• Seeking out additional support from peer support groups or online communities for ongoing encouragement and accountability in applying DBT skills in daily life.

To prepare for their first dialectical behavior therapy session, an individual can:

• Reflect on specific challenges they're facing in managing emotions and behaviors.
• Identify goals they hope to achieve through therapy.
• Be open-minded and willing to learn new skills and approaches to coping.
• Consider any questions or concerns they may have about the therapy process.