Dialetical Behavioral Therapy

What is DBT?
​Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an effective treatment for people who struggle to manage their emotions, stress, relationships and impulsive behaviors. DBT combines cognitive-behavioral-therapy and mindfulness practice. It is based on a bio-social theory which believes problems develop from the interaction of biological/physiological makeup and environmental factors, which together, create difficulty managing emotions. DBT therapists take a compassionate view, accepting you for who you are while helping you change and work toward your goals.
             OPTION 1:    Individual DBT Coaching
                                          
Individual DBT sessions focus on applying the DBT skills to your unique life circumstances. In these sessions we will identify appropriate “targets” – behaviors, thoughts and feelings that you would like to increase or decrease – and work with you to achieve meaningful change. DBT treatment is heavily influenced by Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) but has an added emphasis on Validation, i.e., accepting uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, and behaviors rather than fighting against them. The therapist’s role during these sessions is to help you find a balance between acceptance and change. Some clients appreciate this modification as a pre-curser  to group therapy and other clients just feel more comfortable with a one-on-one approach.
​We will take our time to learn and practice:
  • Mindfulness practices
  • Emotional Regulation
  • Interpersonal Effectiveness
  • Distress Tolerance

              OPTION 2:     Group DBT                           *NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME
​Format
* Open group for adults age 18+ with a revolving schedule.
* Lecture and interactive format involving individual and group activities.
* Handouts & materials provided
* Collaboration with outside therapist provided
Fee
​$50.00 per group session (Insurance is accepted- Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, Insurance Checks, Cash/Check and payment plan options available)
​Schedule
​Session A:
​Covers Skill Modules 1&2 (8 weeks):   
​Session B:
Covers Skill Modules 3&4 (10 weeks): 

We ask that all members commit to a full session and both Session A & B for optimal results.
New members may be added at session breaks.

    Interested in joining or would like more information?

    ​Please fill out the form below.
    *HIPPA PRIVACY NOTICE*
     By clinking send you are agreeing to email correspondence with Dana Hall LLC for the purposes of obtaining DBT group information. Your information will not be used for solitication but is subject to the limitations of email privacy.

​In this video, DBT Developer and Behavioral Tech founder Dr. Marsha Linehan describes the amazing changes she's seen in people who have received DBT and gotten out of hell.

The Four Skill Modules

Mindfulness  (Module 1)


Mindfulness skills in DBT come from the eastern spiritual traditions. These skills help members focus on the present and attend to what is happening in the here and now in a calm way. It helps people slow down and focus on doing what is needed to care for oneself in the moment. Members learn the value of wise mind instead of succumbing to intense emotions and acting in a destructive way.
Mindfulness Workbook Link

Interpersonal Effectiveness (Module 2)

Interpersonal effectiveness skills involve helping people understand what their needs are in their relationships and helps develop effective ways of dealing with others in order to get one’s wants or needs met in a healthy way. This involves respecting the self and others, listening and communicating effectively, dealing with difficult people, repairing relationships and being able to say no.
Interpersonal Effectiveness Link

Distress Tolerance (Module 3)

Distress tolerance helps people get through difficult times when emotions are running high. It teaches people to soothe themselves in healthy ways when they are feeling upset rather than becoming overwhelmed by emotions or hiding from them. This allows individuals to make wise decisions about whether and how to take action, rather than falling into the intense, desperate and often-destructive emotional reactions. Crisis survival skills are also taught so that one does not engage in problematic behaviors and ultimately make the situation worse. Reality Acceptance Skills focus on helping people fully accept reality and provide a guideline for responding to painful aspects of life.
Distress Tolerance Link

Emotional Regulation (Module 4)

The DBT emotion regulation skills help people understand their emotions. It teaches people to decrease the intensity of their feelings and helps them ride out strong emotions without acting on them. It provides education about the function of emotions and how to not be swamped by them.
Emotional Regulation Link
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Self-Harm- What is it?
Working with hundreds of clients that have engaged in self-injurious behavior I often get asked this question. Please understand this response is no way able to cover the diversity of the answers that I have received from clients. However, I hope it starts you down a path of seeking understanding and exhibiting compassion as we help teach our friends, family and even self how to cope in healthier ways. 
Self injury, also called self-harm, self-mutilation, or simply cutting, is defined as any intentional injury to one's own body. Usually, self-injury leaves marks or causes tissue damage. Self-injury can involve any of the following behaviors:
  • Cutting
  • Burning (or "branding" with hot objects)
  • Excessive body piercing or tattooing
  • Picking at skin or re-opening wounds
  • Hair-pulling (trichotillomania)
  • Head-banging
  • Hitting (with hammer or other object)
  • Bone-breaking
  • I personally would like to add - Intense Negative Self-Talk- 
Most who engage in self-injury act alone rather than in groups. They also attempt to hide their behavior. While cutting can look like attempted suicide, it's often not; most people who mutilate themselves do it as a way to regulate mood. People who hurt themselves in this way may be motivated by a need to distract themselves from inner turmoil or to quickly release anxiety that builds due to an inability to express intense emotions. This book seeks to answer this question in more depth: Cutting by Steven Levenkron (Link: Cutting)

Here are some additional resources:
How to spot the signs 
Why Cutting?
A Parents Guide to Understanding 

Resources