What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a treatment that can assist kids and teens with issues like self-harm, depression, and anxiety. It uses mindfulness-based and cognitive behavioral techniques to teach kids how to regulate their emotions.
DBT is an evidence-based approach that has been shown to assist people with various mental health issues. These include borderline personality disorder, chronic depression, bulimia, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse issues.
DBT can be described as a therapy that helps you manage your emotions and build healthy relationships with others. Utilizing skills for mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, DBT helps you cope with difficult feelings, reduce conflicts with family members or friends, and get back on track in life.
In addition to individual sessions, DBT treatment may include group training in mindfulness and emotion regulation skills. Furthermore, clients of this treatment can access phone coaching between sessions by calling their individual therapist for support when it’s most needed.
A highly structured 8 session parent-teen group that teaches DBT skills for walking the middle path – an idea which can be especially helpful when parents and their teens are trying to work through difficult feelings together. The class-like format features handouts, take home exercises, and experiential activities.
DBT is the most successful treatment for adolescents suffering from severe emotional instability, often referred to as “dysregulation.” Dysregulation can lead to suicidal thoughts and behaviors like self-harm or drug use. DBT helps adolescents comprehend their emotions without judgment and gives them tools to alter their behaviors so that they feel better overall.
At Lukin Center, our therapists possess a profound knowledge of DBT and how to incorporate it into therapy for those who require it. We match therapists with clients based on their individual treatment needs and objectives, and can incorporate DBT-informed techniques into their sessions in order to increase their chances of success.
DBT is an effective treatment for many problems, such as depression, trauma, PTSD, anxiety, binge eating disorder or bulimia. It helps you regulate emotions and enhance relationship skills so you can lead a happier more satisfying life.
