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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 with DBT is to use lots of worksheets and handouts. I find the best benefit in using visual aids to teach the core skills of DBT because this allows clients to have a reference to practice what we learn outside of sessions. We also discuss a ton of hypothetical examples to ensure a comprehensive understanding as we go along.
I teach:
I know a client is making meaningful progress in dialectical behavior therapy when they share awareness of their emotions and the impact they have on thoughts, behaviors, and interactions with others. When clients can then use this emotional awareness to choose and practice an appropriate DBT skill, we’re getting somewhere!
Clients can supplement their time in dialectical behavior therapy by reviewing handouts and worksheets. Practice is very important in DBT! Often we use a DBT diary card, which is a very handy tool to track emotions and skills practiced between sessions.
To prepare for their first dialectical behavior therapy session, an individual can reflect on areas in their life where they feel they are getting “stuck” (for example in relationships, at work, etc.) and how they envision those areas changing for the better. It is also helpful to know that making progress with DBT takes time and effort, but with commitment to the process comes increased self-awareness, knowledge, and a sense of agency in daily life.
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
Wednesday | 8:00am - 9:00pm | |
Thursday | 8:00am - 9:00pm | |
Friday | 8:00am - 9:00pm | |
Saturday | 8:00am - 9:00pm | |
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Monday | 8:00am - 9:00pm | |
Tuesday | 8:00am - 9:00pm |
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Wednesday | 8:00am - 9:30pm | |
Thursday | 8:00am - 9:30pm | |
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 |
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