Our therapists offer DBT / dialectical behavior therapy in Raleigh, NC

Levi: Dialectical behavior therapy focuses on helping individuals manage changes in their emotional states and communicate their emotions to others. DBT helps individuals accept and respond to emotional changes in a way that does not negatively impact their daily lives.

Caroline: My go-to approach for helping people in dialectical behavior therapy is to first engage the client in a daily breathing and mindfulness practice to reset the nervous system and connect the client to their place of inner calm. It is here that they are able to slow the mind down so that they can move towards identifying and implementing problem-solving and coping strategies from a clearer mind and thought perspective.

Levi: Common tools taught in dialectical behavior therapy include:

• Mindfulness skills: These skills help individuals to identify and accept their emotional states as they experience them in the present moment. They can also assist individuals in promoting emotional regulation in the present moment.
• Distress tolerance skills: This set of skills helps individuals build comfort in responding to and remaining present in more distressing emotional states.
• Interpersonal effectiveness skills: These skills help individuals communicate their emotions in an assertive and respectful manner that promotes positive social relationships.

Caroline: I teach the following tools in dialectical behavior therapy:

• Mindfulness
• Distress tolerance
• Interpersonal effectiveness
• Emotional regulation

Levi: One sign of meaningful progress in dialectical behavior therapy is when a client is able to identify, express, and accept their emotional states, respond to their emotional states using positive emotion regulation skills, and communicate their emotional states to others in a positive manner.

Caroline: I know a client is making meaningful progress in dialectical behavior therapy when I see consistently improved mood, increased insight, an overall calmer presence, and a renewed sense of quality of life.

Levi: Clients can supplement their time in dialectical behavior therapy by setting aside intentional time for reflection between sessions. DBT therapists often encourage the use of a mood journal to track emotional states between sessions, so setting aside a brief period of time each day between sessions to reflect can help clients meet their goals.

Caroline: Clients can best supplement dialectical behavior therapy by through daily practice of the tools and exercises learned during sessions. While the therapist provides the tools, the most dramatic and positive changes happen between sessions through the client's own time and efforts to incorporate what is learned into their everyday lives.

Levi: To prepare for your first dialectical behavior therapy session consider the following questions:

• What are some common themes or patterns I have noticed about my emotional state?
• What behaviors or activities have helped me to manage my emotional state in the past?
• What are the goals that I am hoping to accomplish through DBT?

Caroline: To prepare for their first dialectical behavior therapy session, an individual is best served by coming prepared to engage in self-discovery and having a willingness to change the thoughts and habits that are no longer serving them. Dialectical behavior therapy provides the best opportunity to learn how to use the skills already within yourself to overcome life's daily challenges. If you are ready for change, DBT can help you to accomplish that!