Book a session with a therapist or psychiatry provider near you
You deserve dedicated time with a mental health professional — it can be life-changing.
Discover how starting dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) therapy can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.
Give us a call to schedule your next appointment, or browse through our full list of available providers.
Look for a confirmation email in your inbox shortly. We’ll help find you a provider and guide you through everything you should know about starting care at Thriveworks.
A common approach for helping people in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) involves balancing acceptance and change strategies. DBT typically focuses on four key areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. The best benefit is often found in teaching clients how to manage intense emotions and reduce impulsive behaviors, which is particularly effective for individuals struggling with mood disorders or personality disorders. Mindfulness helps clients stay present and aware of their thoughts and feelings, while emotion regulation teaches them how to manage emotional responses. Combining these skills with distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness creates a comprehensive approach to improving emotional and relational functioning. DBT is structured, skills-based, and empowers individuals to create meaningful changes in their lives.
The following tools are commonly taught in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT):
Progress in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is evident when a client begins to use the skills they’ve learned, such as mindfulness and emotion regulation, in their daily life. Meaningful progress can be seen when the client demonstrates a reduction in impulsive or self-destructive behaviors and an increase in their ability to tolerate distress without escalating the situation. Additionally, when the client starts to communicate more effectively in relationships, using tools like DEAR MAN to assert their needs while maintaining respect for others, it indicates growth. Another sign of progress is when clients show a greater balance between emotional and logical thinking, making decisions from their wise mind. An overall improvement in emotional stability and a reduction in crises or conflicts are also strong indicators of meaningful progress in DBT.
Clients can supplement their time in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) with the following activities:
To prepare for their first dialectical behavior therapy session, an individual can reflect on the specific areas of their life that feel overwhelming or out of control, such as impulsive behaviors, intense emotions, or relationship conflicts. It may be helpful to write down any patterns or challenges they’ve noticed, as well as personal goals for therapy, such as improving emotional regulation or learning how to better handle stress. Approaching the session with an open mind and a willingness to learn new skills is important, as DBT is highly structured and skills-focused. Additionally, understanding that DBT involves a commitment to practicing these skills both in and outside of therapy can help set realistic expectations for the process. Lastly, bringing questions about how the therapy works and what to expect can foster a more comfortable and collaborative start to the therapy journey.
At Thriveworks, Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) primarily concentrates on assisting individuals in emotion regulation, enhancing interpersonal relationships, and acquiring effective coping strategies for managing stress and emotional difficulties.
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) targets your personal challenges. You may work with your DBT therapist to maintain diary cards to monitor progress, emphasizing validation and support in the therapeutic relationship. DBT follows a stage-based approach, prioritizing crisis reduction initially and life satisfaction.
DBT was initially developed to address the needs of individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD). However, its versatile approach has enabled its application to a wide range of mental health conditions, including but not limited to, anxiety, depression, stress, and anger issues.
The 4 pillars of DBT are mindfulness, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance.
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) have distinct purposes and aren’t inherently superior or inferior to one another. DBT is most effective for managing emotional regulation, personality disorders, and interpersonal challenges, while EMDR is specifically tailored for individuals with trauma-related conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) with therapists at Thriveworks in Greensboro, NC is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.
The duration of a standard DBT program is typically around 24 weeks, which is roughly six months. The actual number of sessions will vary depending on the issues you wish to address.
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
Friday | 8:00am - 9:00pm | |
Saturday | 8:00am - 9:00pm | |
Sunday | 8:00am - 9:00pm | |
Monday | 8:00am - 9:00pm | |
Tuesday | 8:00am - 9:00pm | |
Wednesday | 8:00am - 9:00pm | |
Thursday | 8:00am - 9:00pm |
Shown in ET
Friday | 8:00am - 9:30pm | |
Saturday | 8:00am - 6:00pm | |
Sunday | 8:00am - 6:00pm | |
Monday | 8:00am - 9:30pm | |
Tuesday | 8:00am - 9:30pm | |
Wednesday | 8:00am - 9:30pm | |
Thursday | 8:00am - 9:30pm |
Shown in ET
7 photos