What is DBT Therapy?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based therapy that uses dialectical strategies and mindfulness to help change behaviors that prevent people from leading a life worth living.
Have people told you that you’re overly sensitive?
Maybe you’ve noticed that your emotions can overcome you, leading to feelings of overwhelm and frustration. You feel that you get upset easily and the irritable feelings last longer than “normal,” which only adds to the overwhelm and frustration. Plus, maybe these feelings seem like they’ll last forever, which can leave you feeling hopeless, helpless, and empty. And often times, when you feel this way, you use destructive and unhealthy behaviors.
Perhaps these scenarios make your relationships challenging. Even though you don’t want to hurt your loved ones, irritation, anger, blame, and destruction come out of nowhere. Then, these seemingly uncontrollable feelings take control and push away your partner, family members, or friends.
The feelings of rejection and being unlovable arise, which cause you to use unhealthy behaviors, which only add to frustration with yourself. This cycle of getting upset, feeling frustrated with yourself, then practicing behaviors that make it worse can make life challenging in many ways.
DBT Can Help
If you find yourself identifying with the above scenarios, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) may be a good fit for you. With DBT Therapy, you can find support and explore the feelings and behaviors that make life feel hopeless and empty.
What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy is a scientifically proven type of therapy. It uses dialectical strategies and mindfulness to help you change behaviors that keep you from leading a life you love. This treatment was originally developed by Marsha M. Linehan, Ph. D. to help people struggling with chronic suicidality, and has become known for effectively treating Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). However, DBT is also an effective therapeutic method for many issues people encounter over their lifetime.
Furthermore, Dialectical Behavior Therapy is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). DBT teaches you tools for change, while also helping you explore acceptance and compassion for yourself and others. During DBT, you will explore patterns of behaviors and emotions. You’ll dive into the what, why, and how of these tendencies, helping you deconstruct and replace them with healthier ones.
How does DBT work?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy is a comprehensive treatment program that was created to help individuals who struggle with emotional dysregulation. Furthermore, emotional dysregulation is what many of the clients we work with have a hard time harnessing. Emotional dysregulation is a common thread among people who have trouble with impulsivity and dysfunctional behaviors. So, with online DBT therapy, we can help you figure out ways to decrease impulsivity and increase healthy coping behaviors.
The goal of Dialectical Behavior Therapy is to establish and improve emotional regulation, the opposite of dysregulation. With DBT therapy, you will be able better manage emotions and impulses, allowing you to connect with your loved ones and yourself.
Mindfulness
One of the most important things about DBT is that it is rooted in mindfulness and validation. Working with a DBT therapist can help you notice when challenging emotions arise. Then, instead of using previous unhelpful reactions, you will learn to take a pause, which allows your brain and body to healthily process the feelings. Working with a DBT therapist will help you learn how to do this and replace the unhelpful reactions with more positive ones.
Dialectics
Dialectics refers to the concept that two opposing ideas or feelings can be present at the same time. When you experience this, it can be unsettling and confusing, which often leads to the development of unhealthy behaviors. However, dialectics help you understand the relationship between opposing ideas and feelings. This helps you find peace with experiencing both simultaneously, in turn bringing harmony to your mind and body.
The DBT Center of the South Bay believes that both acceptance and change need to be incorporated in order for clients to see success in therapy. During treatment, clients learn to be kind to themselves while challenging the behaviors that hold them back from living healthily and happily.
In Person and Online DBT Therapy Process
Our South Bay center provides comprehensive DBT programs. This comprehensive approach consists of multiple layers of support.
Individual Therapy once a week
You will meet with a DBT therapist once a week for individual sessions.
DBT Skills Group once a week
You will meet with a group of people working through our DBT program. In this group, you will learn skills to address tough emotions and channel that energy into helpful coping strategies. Meeting with other individuals who struggle with similar challenges can be extremely impactful. Group can help you feel less alone and more connected.
Phone calls with a DBT therapist in-between sessions
You can contact your DBT therapist in-between sessions for telephone coaching. This part of our process gives you extra support when you’re not in a therapy session or skills group.
DBT Consultation Team
Our clinicians work as a team to ensure that you get the best DBT possible. The team works together and does online DBT therapy on each other to keep team members motivated and adherent to current practices. This assures that you are getting a community of DBT therapists working for you.
What can DBT Therapy help?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy was created to help people with ongoing suicidality and borderline personality disorder. However, it can be incredibly helpful in treating a number of issues.
Specific Issues
- Suicidal behaviors and ideas
- Self injury
- Substance abuse
- Depression
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Eating disorders
Other Issues Treated with DBT Therapy
- Painful emotions that feel intolerable and all-consuming
- Quick shifts from different emotions and moods
- Self-hatred and shame
- Irritability and anger
- Relationships challenges
- Fears of abandonment
- Sensitivity to criticism and rejection
- Feelings of emptiness or numbness
- Self-sabotaging or destructive behaviors
Outcomes of DBT Therapy
Our skilled DBT therapists have found this treatment to be extremely helpful. Many of the clients we have worked with have seen life-changing results from working with our DBT therapists.
- Desire motivation to live life fully
- Better emotional regulation
- Increased focus
- Healthier relationships with others and self
- Reduction of self-harming behaviors to self and others
- Ability to manage life crises more effectively
- Decrease in suicidal behaviors and hospitalization
Our Approach to Dialectical Behavior Therapy
The DBT Center of the South Bay has been providing Dialectical Behavior Therapy services to clients for over 18 years. We have seen how this therapy can change lives. It has helped many people suffering from a wide range of challenges that make life feel unlivable. People just like you or your loved one have come to our DBT center for help. And, they’ve been able to overcome a multitude of challenges, allowing them to live full, happy, and rewarding lives. We are excited to now have a DBT practice located in the Summerlin area of Las Vegas, NV to help those who are suffering in Vegas as well.
Begin DBT Therapy in Los Angeles County, Torrance, CA, and now in Las Vegas, NV, Summerlin area.
We believe that you deserve to live life fully and authentically. A DBT therapist at both Torrance, CA and the Las Vegas, NV Summerlin area is ready to meet with you and help you reach your goals. Follow the steps below to get started with DBT in the South Bay of Los Angeles, CA, or in the Summerlin area of Las Vegas, NV.
- Connect with us using our contact form.
- Meet with a skilled DBT therapist
- Start meeting your goals and live a healthier, fuller life.
Other Services at the DBT Center of South Bay
Our DBT center located just south of Los Angeles, CA and in the Summerlin area of Las Vegas, NV has helped many people find the motivation to live fuller, more connected lives. The Center provides treatment for adults. Furthermore, we provide DBT to help with managing anger, social isolation and loneliness, trauma and dissociation. The Center’s therapist specializes in helping those experiencing suicidal thoughts and self-harm behaviors. And you can access our services from anywhere in either state using online therapy in California and Nevada.
