DBT Therapy in Los Angeles & Houston

While the objective of both cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) are to help the client modify their thought patterns, there are significant differences. The primary emphasis of CBT is the relationship between thoughts and how to redirect them, whereas DBT focuses more on the relationship between acceptance and behavioral changes.

Yes, dialectical behavioral therapy is a form of talk psychotherapy that focuses on identifying thoughts and emotions, reducing one’s vulnerability to the emotional mind, developing mindfulness around emotions, and making conscious changes.

Dialectical behavioral therapy teaches the client skills that can be used outside of the treatment setting to prevent relapsing into drug use or negative behaviors. Some examples of DBT skills include:
- Increasing mindfulness during stressful situations
- Acceptance of emotions and thoughts as they arise
- Identifying and naming emotions
- Minimizing reactivity to strong emotions
- Identifying challenges to changing emotions and behaviors
- Challenging behaviors and emotions

Dialectical behavioral therapy is a common and effective modality in the treatment of anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and panic disorder. DBT helps clients regulate emotions. Those participating in DBT sessions learn to identify, accept and modify their reactions to unavoidable emotions.

Many people suffering from depression find that dialectical behavioral therapy is effective when other treatments haven’t been. DBT takes a comprehensive approach to depression, combining behavioral, cognitive, and acceptance therapy to help the client develop coping skills.

Dialectical behavioral therapy is often used in the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and intrusive thoughts. DBT helps clients identify emotions and manage automatic reactions to these emotions, improve self control, and regain a feeling of control in their lives.

DBT is one of the go-to treatments for those with ADD/ADHD. Dialectical behavioral therapy can help those with ADHD challenge impulsive behaviors and improve self-control.

Yes. Dialectical behavioral therapy has been proven effective in treating the symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Through mindfulness techniques, clients suffering from PTSD are able to focus on the present moment and stay grounded, as well as regulate emotions and increase distress tolerance.

Social anxiety can be all-consuming, making it so that individuals don’t just find themselves struggling in traditional social situations, but even daily living tasks such as going to the grocery store. DBT can help those struggling with social anxiety overcome avoidant behaviors and learn how to react to stressors differently.

Those suffering from psychotic symptoms can turn to dangerous behaviors. Dialectical behavioral therapy can help improve quality of life by helping the client learn grounding techniques that help when instances of delusions, discordant thinking, or agitation arise.

The mindfulness skills one learns in dialectical behavioral therapy help those suffering from eating disorders feel more grounded and decrease compulsions surrounding food. This therapy is considered one of the most effective treatments when recovering from anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder.

DBT has shown to be highly effective for clients dealing with feelings of anger. Because DBT focuses on identifying and naming negative emotions and then doing the opposite of what these emotions tell us to do, those experiencing lack of control over their anger responses learn how to ground themselves and change these reactive behaviors.

Those suffering from bipolar disorders experience mood swings that can result in extreme dysfunction. Dialectical behavioral therapy can help with self-regulation and grounding, improving the quality of life for those with bipolar and other mood disorders.

DBT helps clients stop ruminating on the past or worrying about the uncertainty of the future. This form of therapy involves taking the opposite action of what our emotions are telling us to do, and can help those experiencing deep grief move forward with their lives.

One of the biggest benefits of dialectical behavioral therapy is an improvement in self-esteem. Often, individuals with substance use disorders or mental health conditions can feel isolated and out of control of their thoughts, feelings, and subsequent behaviors. Regaining a sense of autonomy and self-empowerment can help increase self-esteem.

Those with IBS suffer an extreme level of distress which result in maladaptive coping strategies. Dialectical behavioral therapy can help manage these negative emotions and improve the symptoms of IBS.

For people who are highly sensitive to their environments or highly reactive to their emotions, DBT can help with self-regulation and changing behaviors. Dialectical behavioral therapy is effective in stress management.