Dialectical Behavior Therapy is an enhanced form of CBT and was developed by Psychologist Marsha Linehan. There is a strong evidence base for the effectiveness of DBT in treating individuals with para-suicidal and self-harm behaviors.
DBT is developed from Dr Linehan’s biosocial theory which builds upon the concept of an “invalidating environment” in the early family of the individual coupled with a biological predisposition toward maladaptive coping mechanisms. The two types of biological cause are emotional vulnerability and difficulty regulating emotions. This biological propensity coupled with and environment in which the individual’s inner experience of emotions or beliefs are questioned, discounted, denied, or criticized (invalidated) results in learned maladaptive coping techniques.
As originated, DBT has four primary modes of treatment delivery: individual therapy, skills training in a group setting, “in the moment” phone coaching, and consultation among therapists/skills trainers on the treatment team. I primarily provide the individual therapy and phone coaching components and will link you with a DBT skills training group in the area. I will also consult with the skills trainer to coordinate treatment goals as needed.
So if you….
– engage in self-destructive behaviors
– find you are emotionally vulnerable (particularly inclined toward frequent and intense negative emotion)
– have difficulty regulating your emotions (getting back to a balance) and
– these conditions are severely impacting your interpersonal relationships
…Then this treatment may be the road to building an emotionally stable and ordinary life.
DBT moves in stages from being out of control to being in control; from being emotionally vulnerable or shut down to experiencing emotions fully and comfortably to building an ordinary, problem-solving life to a feeling of completeness. If you would like to begin working through these stages, please contact me today to schedule an appointment.