What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?

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Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a structured, short-term approach to therapy to treat individuals with various mental health concerns, such as self-destructive behaviors, emotional regulation difficulties, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and other trauma-related disorders.

DBT helps you accept yourself as you are, despite negative patterns of thinking you may have due to various life experiences. This acceptance makes more room for you to change negative thinking that may harm your mental health.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy teaches you tolerance to more adequately cope with negative or difficult emotions and strategies to change behavior and reduce negative thoughts.

Your therapist will help you recognize and name your feelings as they arise without judging them or shaming yourself for experiencing them. You will also practice distress tolerance by finding ways to cope with destructive urges more positively. Your therapist might also include mindfulness techniques, which teach you to be present in the moment.

DBT can be used individually or in a group setting. Group settings for DBT help practice skills and work on interpersonal communication, as another goal of DBT is to improve relationship skills.

Therapists Who Specialize in Using Dialectical Behavior Therapy 

Rachel Khints LMHC

Montclair

New Jersey

My approach is holistic and integrative. Whether you seek therapy as part of your self-care hygiene or are working toward specific goals, I provide a person centered container for this work. I am experienced in treating a variety of problem areas including trauma, coping challenges, grief and relationship difficulties. I am also specialized in treating individuals with and affected by addiction.

Dr. Lucie M. Taustine, Ph.D.

Massapequa Park

New York

My approach to understanding people is grounded in diverse psychoanalytic and psychodynamic theory; I believe in both conscious and unconscious motivations for our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Since not all patients want or need the same type of treatment, my skillset includes: psychoanalysis, psychodynamic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, therapeutic hypnosis, holistic approaches...

Larry J Colby

Fredericksburg

Virginia

I enjoy working with children who are struggling with emotional and behavioral regulation. My preferred modality with children is play therapy and santray. The goal in these modalities is to use the power of the therapeutic relationship to help the child build internal regulation and an understanding of how to cope in their world. I also enjoy working with youth and adults suffering from trauma...

Olivia Carelli

Stuart

Florida

My goal and life purpose is to provide individualized and compassionate care to adults, teenagers, and families in emotional crisis.