DBT is an evidence-based therapy developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan. DBT skills are life skills! Not only is it the gold standard in treating Borderline Personality Disorder, but studies have found it is highly effective for a wide range of mental and emotional health issues including depression, anxiety and PTSD. DBT skills focus on difficulties related to regulating emotions and associated thinking and behavioral patterns. DBT is an emotion-focused behavioral therapy.  

"Dialectical" means that two seemingly opposite things can be true simultaneously. It takes us from our black-and-white, rigid thinking to a place of more balance. DBT focuses on helping you accept the reality of your life and behavior so that you can learn to change your life and leave unhelpful behaviors behind. Dialectical thinking is a way to learn to see things from multiple perspectives, which helps resolve the catastrophic thinking that happens in response to perceived threats. 

The goal of the skills training group is to learn how to change your own behaviors, emotions, and thoughts linked to problems in living, causing misery and distress. DBT skills will transform your life, how you think, and how you behave to help you build a meaningful life that you love. This is an in-depth learning program where each week you will learn one of over a hundred skills. It is an evidence-based approach to integrating DBT skills into your daily life.​

Group begins with a brief mindfulness practice. You will be able to share about your skill use and review your homework.  After a break, we transition to introducing new skills.  The group focuses on learning and effectively using DBT skills through engaging lectures, lively group discussions, and weekly homework assignments. ​ 

DBT's Skill Modules Include:

Mindfulness is central to DBT. Mindfulness teaches you to live in the present moment, taking a nonjudgmental and curious approach. It stresses leaning into your emotions and acting from your Wise Mind. 

Distress Tolerance teaches you how to tolerate and manage stressful situations without doing things that can make them worse! Accepting the life you have allows you to make changes that align with your values  and live your best life. 

Emotion Regulation is all about helping you gain control over and manage your emotions. It also teaches you how to build more emotional resiliency and create more contentment and joy in your life. 

Interpersonal Effectiveness focuses on managing conflicts effectively and maintaining and improving your relationships with others. 

This group is an interactive and fun way to learn new skills. Each session includes the following: a mindfulness exercise, homework review, new skills teaching/practice, and a homework assignment.  Handouts and worksheets used in sessions are primarily from Marsha Linehan’s DBT manual. 

Learn more or get in touch about DBT Group work with Kimberly Endres.