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Discover how starting dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) therapy can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.
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My go-to approach for helping people in dialectical behavior therapy is to orient them fully to the process, as DBT therapy is a very structured, routinized treatment that does not offer a lot of deviation and requires buy-in and constant commitment to change from the client. I like to provide a general overview of the core tenets of DBT as well as the expectations that it has of the client, the expectations of the therapist, and the expected outcomes. I find the best benefit is making sure clients can ask questions and explore the DBT process in its entirety prior to beginning because it increases buy-in. I also like to provide worksheets and a workbook for my clients to use and recommend homework as a great way for clients to practice as well as visually track their progress.
I teach the following tools in dialectical behavior therapy:
I know a client is making meaningful progress in dialectical behavior therapy when they are regularly completing their homework, demonstrating mastery of the DBT skills, and using them regularly and with minimal prompting from the clinician. I also know that a client is progressing in DBT therapy when they are personalizing the techniques and making active attempts to incorporate them into their daily life, reporting an overall increase in life satisfaction and a decrease in the frequency and intensity of feelings of distress.
Clients can supplement their time in dialectical behavior therapy by participating in a DBT skills group. DBT skills training group therapy focuses on ways that group members are applying the skills learned in therapy in their daily lives. It can be a great way for others to learn new ideas and ways to personalize their therapeutic experience. Outside of group therapy, making sure that you are taking a proactive role/approach to your own self-care and wellness, as well as making sure that you are engaging in healthy and nourishing behaviors, is the best way to maintain steady progress in therapy.
To prepare for their first dialectical behavior therapy session, an individual can do some research ahead of time on DBT therapy and learn about its structure and tenets. Familiarize yourself with the therapeutic process ahead of time and perhaps come to therapy with a list of questions you have or any expectations that you have so that you can discuss them openly and freely with your therapist!
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 Richmond, VA 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 |
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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 |
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