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 also 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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 through Behavioral Tech
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy Foundational Training through Behavioral Tech
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills for Adolescents and Families through Behavioral Tech
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, so I do not want to overwhelm them with reading materials every session. Individuals, couples and adults are still getting exposed to the benefits of the DBT treatment modality.
DBT-INFORMED PSYCHOTHERAPY VERSUS COMPREHENSIVE DBT
An intensive outpatient 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 meeting with colleagues, and other additional sessions deemed clinically appropriate to support the client’s presenting needs. Additional sessions may include but are not limited to: an additional individual therapy session per week, family therapy, couples therapy, individual DBT skills coaching sessions, weekly parent DBT skills coaching sessions.
A DBT-informed approach does not include all of the components listed above. Your individualized 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. When working with teens, my practice offers parent skills coaching sessions to parents/caregivers to supplement their child’s ongoing individual therapy.
Please reach out to discuss if a DBT-informed approach aligns with what you are looking for!