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Our Impact
Education, Social Emotional,
and Mental Health Well Being
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
OUR IMPACT
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Mindfulness + Behavioral Therapy = Managed Intense Emotions
DBT benefits adolescents, teens, and young adults with Borderline Personality Disorder, addiction, depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and eating disorders.
Dialectic' means balancing opposites... and seeing how they go together.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
What is DBT?
DBT focuses on teaching people skills to manage intense emotions, cope with challenging situations, and improve their relationships. It encourages people to learn and use mindfulness training in practical ways. During individual and group sessions, therapists encourage a nonjudgmental attitude and emphasize acceptance, compassion, and other aspects of mindfulness.
Who may benefit from DBT?
DBT has a proven track record for addressing the most debilitating symptoms of borderline personality disorder: self-injury and suicide threats or attempts. It is now also used to treat depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, and substance use disorders. In fact, the cornerstone of DBT — the skills training — can help anyone navigate emotionally charged situations with more ease.
How can mindfulness change how people experience strong emotions?
Many people in therapy have very strong emotions that lead to negative thoughts. They say things like, 'I'm stupid,' or 'I can't control my anger,' or 'No one will ever love me.’ The mindfulness aspect of DBT teaches people to pay careful attention to the nature, quality, and volume of their thoughts. The idea is to observe these thoughts as separate from yourself without identifying with their meaning.
How does DBT differ from cognitive behavioral therapy?
DBT is derived from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT assumes that certain negative thoughts (cognitions) are distortions, and if you learn how to swap those distorted thoughts with more productive ones, you'll be less depressed or anxious. That concept touches on the core of DBT as it refers to the idea that two opposite things can be true at the same time. Rather than viewing things in extremes of black and white, DBT encourages people to recognize there's more than one way to view a situation.
What skills does DBT rely on?
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Mindfulness. Learn to become more aware of your thoughts and emotions.
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Distress tolerance is the ability to manage emotional distress in the moment, using techniques such as distraction.
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Emotion regulation involves recognizing, accepting, and managing intense emotions.
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Interpersonal effectiveness focuses on improving communication with other people to strengthen relationships and improve your self-esteem.
What does DBT entail?
DBT includes one-on-one sessions with a therapist. Participants are encouraged to keep a daily diary to track their emotions, behaviors, reactions, and examples of how they're practicing their skills. DBT has been shown to be effective for people ranging from adolescents to older adults with a range of mental health conditions. However it appears to be especially useful for adolescents, perhaps for the same reason that it's easier to learn a language or how to play an instrument when you're younger rather than older.
Who can participate in DBT?
All youth of all genders, ages 12 to 25, are eligible to participate in DBT.
How much does DBT cost?
FREE! There is no cost to participate in our program. (Sessions are valued at $250 per hour.)
How do I get started?
Simple... Complete the form below.
Education
We promote independence in learning in conjunction with the area school system:
• Personalized
• Increased Access to Specialized Education
• Encourage Student Perspective on Learning
• Establishing College and UniveristyGoals/ Success
Individual Therapy
Girls are encouraged to partake in a
wholistic healthy lifestyle which
includes daily exercise and individual
therapy with a licensed professional.
Social Skills Training (SST)
We practice SST:
• Behavioral Rehearsal: Role play which involves practicing new skills during therapy in simulated situations.
• Corrective Feedback: Used to help improve social skills during practice.
• Instruction: The educational component of SST that involves
the modeling of appropriate social behaviors.
• Positive Reinforcement: used to reward improvements in social skills.
• Weekly Homework Assignments: Provide the chance to practice
new social skills outside of therapy.
Anger Management
We host individual and weekly group meetings to address:
• Anger Expectations
• Anger vs. Aggression
• Assertiveness Skills
• Physical Signs of AngerProblem- Solving Skills
• Self-Directed Time-Outs
• Acceptable Coping Skills
Substance Abuse
We help our girls maintain a positive and productive drug-free lifestyle that promotes meaningful and beneficial relationships and connections to family, peers, and the community both during treatment and after treatment ends.
Experiences
These pro-social experiences can include:
• Libraries
• Swimming Pools
• Parks
• Grocery Stores
• Museums
• Amusement Parks
• Botanical Gardens
• The Zoo
• Horseback Riding and more…