Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) services for individuals, couples, and families in Studio City or nearby Sherman Oaks, Encino, Valley Village, North Hollywood, Burbank, Toluca Lake, Laurel Canyon, and surrounding neighborhoods in Los Angeles, CA. Online DBT therapy is also available for teens and adults residing within the state of California.
Tools and techniques for building connections, embracing change and leaning into acceptance
WHAT IS DBT?
You may have heard of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) combines both!
DBT was created by Dr. Marsha Linehan, Ph.D., the founder of The Linehan Institute and Behavioral Tech. Dr. Linehan initially developed DBT to support individuals living with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Research has shown that DBT is an effective treatment modality for individuals navigating with other personality traits, eating disorders, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and substance use. To explore the research supporting DBT, please visit: Core Evidence & Research
DBT for adults consists of four skills modules:
Mindfulness
The foundation of DBT. Learning how to stay in the present moment without judgment or over attaching meaning to the moment or ourselves. Acceptance based.
Distress Tolerance
Learning skills to help us ride of the waves of intense emotions and crises. The objective is to effectively use skills to not make the situation worse. We work towards accepting reality versus fighting it. Acceptance based.
Emotion Regulation
Learning skills to reduce emotional vulnerability factors, to reduce the frequency of intense emotions, identify and name emotions, and build a new relationship with our emotions versus acting on impulses or other defense mechanisms. Change based.
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Learning skills to navigate and maintain current relationships (e.g., friendships, family, romantic, coworkers), build new relationships, set boundaries, express individual needs, increase our comfort with saying “no” and effectively end relationships (context dependent). Change based.
Additionally, DBT has been found to be effective with adolescents, with an emphasis on emotion regulation, parent relationships, peer relationships, self-harm, and suicidal ideation. DBT for adolescents and families (DBT-A) consists of five skills modules:
Mindfulness
The foundation of DBT. Teaching teens how to stay in the present moment without judgment or over attaching meaning to the moment or themselves. Acceptance based.
Distress Tolerance
Providing teens with the skills to ride of the waves of intense emotions and cope through crises. The goal is for teens to develop skills to not make situations worse. Acceptance based.
Emotion Regulation
Teens are introduced to skills to identify, understand, and effectively change their emotions. The goal is to identify vulnerability factors and reduce the intensity of unwanted emotions and impulsive behaviors. Change based.
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Teens learn skills to navigate current relationships and build new relationships, which include boundary setting, assertive communication skills, and maintaining self-respect in all types of relationships. Change based.
Walking the Middle Path
This module focuses on managing conflict and reducing power struggles. Teens and families are introduced to communication skills, which include how to validate one another’s perspectives, discussing boundaries, and how to effectively negotiate. Families learn how to navigate the dialectics present in adolescence, such as needing independence and needing support. Acceptance and change based.
WHAT IS YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH DBT?
I began facilitating DBT skills groups and providing individual DBT therapy in mental health treatment centers back in 2016. I also worked in a comprehensive DBT group practice before opening my own practice. Completed trainings include:
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy Foundational Training
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills for Adolescents and Families
HOW DO YOU INCORPORATE DBT INTO YOUR PRACTICE?
I utilize a DBT-informed approach with adolescents and adults. This means the DBT theory and skills are introduced based on therapeutic goals, areas of focus, and what the client is bringing into sessions. For example, with teens, most are coming to their weekly sessions from school; I do not want therapy to feel like an extension of the school day. If you are looking for more of a talk therapy approach, please do not hesitate to reach out via the main contact form.
DBT-INFORMED PSYCHOTHERAPY VERSUS COMPREHENSIVE DBT
Comprehensive DBT
A comprehensive DBT program includes the following components: client participation in a weekly DBT skills group, individual DBT therapy, access to phone skills coaching outside of sessions, therapist participation in a weekly DBT consultation group, and other additional sessions deemed clinically appropriate to support the client’s presenting needs. Additional sessions may include but are not limited to: additional individual therapy sessions, family therapy, couples therapy, individual DBT skills coaching sessions, weekly parent DBT skills coaching sessions.
DBT-Informed Psychotherapy
A DBT-informed approach does not include all of the components listed above. Clients are still getting exposed to the benefits of the DBT treatment modality.Your individualized DBT treatment plan is tailored to your individual needs, therapeutic goals, and lifestyle. I collaborate with other treatment providers with whom you currently meet with, as well as provide additional referrals as needed. When working with teens, my practice offers parent skills coaching sessions to parents/caregivers to supplement their child’s ongoing individual therapy.