Lori G, LPC
Therapy
What Is DBT?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy, often called DBT, is a structured treatment approach that teaches practical skills for managing intense emotions, tolerating distress, improving relationships, and staying more grounded in the present moment.
One of the central ideas in DBT is the balance between acceptance and change.
That means recognizing your experience as it is while also identifying what may need to be different.
Acceptance & Change
Can Exist Together
DBT is built around the idea that two things can be true at the same time.
You can be doing the best you can and still need to make changes.
You can accept that something happened without approving of it.
You can feel an emotion strongly and still choose how you respond.
This balance can be especially useful when people feel stuck between self-criticism and avoidance.
What DBT-Informed Work Is Not
DBT-informed therapy is not the same as a formal comprehensive DBT program.
Comprehensive DBT typically includes a structured combination of individual therapy, skills training, consultation, and other components.
My work incorporates selected DBT-informed skills and principles when they are clinically useful.
The goal is to use practical DBT tools without presenting the work as full-model DBT treatment.
Related Concerns
DBT-informed techniques may be incorporated when working with concerns such as emotional dysregulation, trauma-related symptoms, anxiety, depression, impulsivity, relationship conflict, self-criticism, substance use, co-occurring disorders, and difficulty tolerating distress.
The Four Core Skill Areas
DBT is often organized around four major skill areas:
Mindfulness
Mindfulness involves noticing what is happening in the present moment without immediately reacting to it. This may include paying attention to thoughts, emotions, urges, or body sensations and creating more space before responding.
Distress Tolerance
Distress tolerance skills help you get through emotionally intense moments without making the situation worse. The goal is not to eliminate distress instantly, but to increase your ability to tolerate it safely and effectively.
Emotion Regulation
Emotion regulation involves understanding emotions, identifying triggers, reducing vulnerability to emotional overwhelm, and responding more intentionally.
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Interpersonal effectiveness focuses on communication, boundaries, asking for what you need, saying no, and maintaining self-respect within relationships.
What It May Look
Like in Session
DBT-informed work may include:
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Mindfulness skills
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Grounding strategies
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Distress tolerance techniques
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Emotion regulation skills
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Identifying triggers
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Slowing impulsive reactions
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Increasing awareness of urges
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Improving communication
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Setting boundaries
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Practicing assertiveness
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Developing crisis coping strategies
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Building more effective responses to conflict
These skills can be practiced directly in session and applied to real-life situations between sessions.
How I Use
DBT-Informed Techniques
I use DBT-informed skills within a broader person-centered and integrative approach.
If emotions feel overwhelming, we may focus on slowing things down, identifying what is happening, and choosing a skill that fits the situation.
If conflict tends to escalate quickly, we may work on communication, boundaries, or interpersonal effectiveness.
If the immediate goal is simply getting through a difficult moment safely, distress tolerance may be the priority.
I do not believe every situation needs a worksheet or formal skill protocol.
Sometimes a DBT-informed concept may simply influence the way we talk about acceptance, emotional intensity, or what you can control.
The goal is to use the skills flexibly rather than forcing you into a rigid treatment format.
DBT Techniques
& Other Approaches
DBT-informed techniques can work well alongside:
For me, DBT-informed work fits especially well when someone needs practical tools while still benefiting from a collaborative and individualized therapeutic relationship.
Ready to Get Started?
Ready to schedule therapy?
Visit Healthstead Psychiatry for scheduling, availability, and insurance information.
Not sure yet?
Contact me for a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation to see whether we may be a good fit.