WholeHeart Psychotherapy logo
(678) 378.9485
WholeHeart Psychotherapy logo
Get Started Now
WholeHeart Psychotherapy logo

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Diverse group therapy

What Is DBT Therapy?

Dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT, is a type of psychotherapy that teaches specific, highly efficacious skills to help people create a “life worth living”. In DBT, you learn, and utilize skills and strategies that are needed to change behavior and thought patterns that interfere with a satisfying life and emotional health.

Learn More About DBT

How Do I Know Its Right For Me?

  • Struggle with intense emotions?
  • Have behaviors that you want to change?
  • Do you use food and/or alcohol to cope?
  • Do you have impulsive or reactive behaviors?
  • Have you have trouble maintaining relationships?
  • Would you like to create a life worth living?

IF YOU ANSWERED “YES” TO ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS, OR IF YOU HAVE OTHER CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR EMOTIONAL WELLBEING, THEN DBT MAY BE HELPFUL TO YOU.

Start The Healing Process

New Client Form

Learn More About "DBT Group Therapy"

DBT Group Therapy

Additional DBT Information

What type of DBT do I need?

There are three types of DBT; DBT skills training group, individual DBT, and DBT skills coaching. Usually a combination of DBT skills training group and individual DBT or DBT skills coaching are suggested for the best outcomes. The actual DBT skills that are the foundation of the DBT practice are taught in a group setting. DBT is based on using the skills, so DBT group is an essential part of your DBT Treatment.

What is a DBT skills training group?

The group is a 24- week cycle that teaches all the DBT skills; mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. Each group lasts 1.5 hours/ once a week and is structured beginning with Mindfulness (meditation), then Homework review is conducted to show how you are using your DBT skills to assess what is working and what isn’t working. Then, we teach the next skill, and Homework assigned for what to practice for the week.

What is individual DBT?

Individual DBT is used in conjunction with DBT skills training group to increase the level of care for clients with behavioral problems that significantly interfere with their quality of life. Individual DBT Therapy is highly structured and utilizes a diary card to efficiently target the most important behaviors to address in therapy. Clients discuss life threatening behaviors (When applicable); therapy interfering behaviors, and quality of life interfering behaviors all using a structured format of behavior chain analysis. This is a very highly effective behavior change therapy.

What is DBT skills coaching?

DBT skills coaching is used when clients need individualized intentional focus in applying and understanding the DBT skills that are being taught in the group. Clients may find that DBT group alone does not provide the level of support that they need to really change the behaviors they are identifying as problems. DBT skills coaching helps clients get highly individualized support in understanding DBT skills, how to apply them in their lives, and gives one-on-one outside of group support for skills integration. Skills coaching with the DBT skills training group is a highly effective and efficient way to change and create a life worth living.

4 Main Topics of DBT:

Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Distress Tolerance, & Emotion Regulation

Mindfulness

Methods for increased mindfulness include behaviors that strengthen the connections to our prefrontal cortex, making it easier to access the higher order thinking of the brain. Mindfulness activities can be yoga, meditation, guided imagery, breath work, tai chi, qi gong, mindful walks, etc.
  • Practice of attention and intention
  • Cultivating a compassionate, curious and non-judgmental relationship to self
  • 3 states of mind: emotional mind, logical mind, and wise mind
  • 3 “what” skills: observe, describe, participate to get more fully in each moment
  • 3 “how” skills: non-judgmentally, effectively, and one-mindfully to be more open to change patterns

Interpersonal Effectiveness​

Methods for increased mindfulness include behaviors that strengthen the connections to our prefrontal cortex, making it easier to access the higher order thinking of the brain. Mindfulness activities can be yoga, meditation, guided imagery, breath work, tai chi, qi gong, mindful walks, etc.
  • Obtaining Objectives Skillfully- DEAR MAN GIVE FAST
  • Objective effectiveness- getting what you want
  • Relationship effectiveness- keeping the relationship
  • Self- respect effectiveness
  • Building Relationships and Ending Destructive Ones- Finding and getting people you like, Mindfulness of others, and Ending relationships.
  • Walking the Middle Path- Balancing and accepting change in relationships- Effectively manage your relationships and yourself
Group Therapy sessions available at WholeHeart Psychotherapy in Atlanta

Distress Tolerance Skills

The Distress Tolerance module is a key component of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which is designed to help individuals manage and tolerate emotional distress more effectively. This module focuses on developing skills to endure and cope with painful emotions and situations without resorting to harmful behaviors or actions.

  • Distracting : Using activities, sensations, or thoughts to take your mind off distressing feelings.
  • Self-Soothing : Engaging in comforting activities or sensory experiences to calm oneself.
  • Improving The Moment : Using strategies to enhance the current moment, such as practicing mindfulness or visualizing a positive scenario.
  • Radical Acceptance : Embracing reality as it is, without fighting against it or wishing it were different.

The goal is to increase a person’s ability to handle crises and emotional pain in a healthy and adaptive manner.

Emotion Regulation

3 Goals of the emotion regulation skills training module are to:

  • Understand and Name your Emotional Experience - What do emotions do?, What makes it hard to regulate emotions?
  • Changing Emotional Responses- 3 steps - Check the Facts, Problem Solving, and Opposite Action
  • Reducing Vulnerability to Emotion Mind - ABC Please
Additional Resources

Find A Therapist

Therapy Providers

Start The Healing Process

Get Started Now

Ready To Start The Process?

In-Person & Online Therapy

Therapy options are available depending on the provider / therapist selected.

678.378.9485
New Client Form

WholeHeart Psychotherapy represents a group of collaborative treatment professionals. However, each provider is an independent contractor. Note that this communication, in and of itself, is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a client-therapist relationship until a written agreement is made.

Office Location

Leave A Review

Quick Links

Stay In The Know!

Enter your email address to receive news on our upcoming workshops and events.

WholeHeart Psychotherapy represents a group of collaborative treatment professionals. However, each provider is an independent contractor. Please feel free to contact our administrative staff or a provider at WholeHeart for information and to learn how to establish a therapeutic relationship. Note that this communication, in and of itself, is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a client-therapist relationship until a written agreement is made.

Office Location

Leave A Review

Quick Links

Stay In The Know!

Enter your email address to receive news on our upcoming workshops and events.

©2024 WholeHeart Psychotherapy, LLC. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy

Web Services: Greene Street Designs

Skip to content