Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Skills training to help you tolerate distress, manage emotions and communicate more effectively
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), is an evidence-based, comprehensive cognitive-behavioral treatment. All therapists at Encompass Hope are trained and experienced in DBT. Our groups will provide skills training in the following areas that align with DBT protocol: Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotion Regulation, and Distress Tolerance. Groups will be made up of up to 10 individuals, with two leaders. All group members will also receive weekly therapy sessions from an individual therapist.
Individuals may seek DBT therapy for any of the following reasons:
- Suicidal thoughts or behaviors
- Self-injury thoughts or behaviors
- Impulsive behaviors (i.e., alcohol/drug use, binge eating, restricting food, purging, gambling, reckless driving, sexual behaviors, dissociating, etc.)
- Anger issues
- Identity issues
- A sense of emptiness
- Fears of abandonment
- Relationship problems
- Mood issues
It is common for individuals in DBT Therapy to also struggle with depression, anxiety, chemical dependency/abuse, and/or trauma related issues.
DBT’s 4 modules include:
1. Mindfulness: Participants will learning how to be present and increase their ability to focus on one thing at a time. Participants will learn to pay attention to their body and their breath.
2. Distress Tolerance: Participants will learn skills to manage extreme stressors and emotions, which will include self-harm and suicidal thoughts and urges, through effective and helpful means rather than harmful to self and/or others. This includes teaching “crisis survival” skills.
3. Emotion Regulation: Participants will work towards understanding and accepting emotions, regain control over their emotions, and bring awareness to the how and why’s over emotions.
4. Interpersonal Effectiveness: Participants will learn how to balance respect of self and others, learn to increase effectiveness with setting boundaries, asking for what is needed, and saying “no,” and learn how to be more effective with overall communication.
We are currently taking clients for our waiting list for the following groups:
1. Adolescents age 14-18 with parent component*
2. Adults
3. Pregnant and post-pregnant women (with babies up to age 1)**. (Perinatal Skills Group)
*Research has demonstrated adolescents with parents who are also actively involved with the DBT treatment process have been shown to have more effective outcomes. Parents will be taught the same skills as their adolescents, with an integrated parenting component.
**Our perinatal skills group is baby friendly. We do ask that once your baby is able to walk, alternative care be sought.
Questions We Commonly Get
What is Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)?
DBT is an evidence-based model created by Marsha Linehan. It was originally created to treat Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), however, it has since had researched effectiveness in the treatment of mood disorders, suicidal ideation, self-harming behaviors, impulsivity, trauma disorders, substance abuse, and other diagnoses.
Are DBT and CBT the same thing?
DBT is a form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) which operates under the assumption that the way we think and view the world and relationships impact our responses to the world and relationships. Therefore, if we can change our own thought patterns, we can also change our responses.
How is DBT different from traditional therapy?
DBT encourages learning new patterns of behaviors called “skills.” There are four main categories or modules: mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. Each module has a set of skills that a therapist will teach to help target specific behaviors. This form of therapy is skills-based, instead of process-based.
What does a DBT program look like?
DBT includes weekly group and individual therapy sessions to work on target behaviors and incorporate skills. DBT is also different from other therapies by offering 24/7 support from therapeutic staff between sessions to help people learn skills when experiencing crisis or feeling distressed.
Get In Touch
Call
(651) 412-5088
Address
3460 Washington Drive, Suite 214
Eagan, MN 55122
Hours
Mon – Fri: 7:00am-7:00pm
Saturday: 8:00am-1:00pm
Sunday: Closed