Our therapists offer DBT / dialectical behavior therapy in Norfolk, VA

My go-to approach for helping people utilize DBT techniques is to follow the DBT manual and focus on coping in all four areas. I start with mindfulness, then focus on emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and lastly interpersonal effectiveness. I utilize tools from this modality for patients who are struggling with impulsivity, emotional regulation, and unhelpful action and behavior patterns.

I teach emotional regulation, distress tolerance techniques, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness.

I know a client is making meaningful progress in DBT when clients are engaged and interacting in therapy, utilize the coping skills learned weekly, and discuss and explore how skills learned in DBT have created a higher level of functioning. Clients may also express increased positive mood shifts through client self-reports, assessments, and clinician observations.

Each week, clients will have specific activities and assignments to complete between sessions to practice skills learned and evaluate how effective the skills have been between sessions.

To prepare for the first DBT session, an individual can make a list of things they would like to work on in therapy. It is also helpful to write down any questions you may have in regard to therapy and DBT in general.