Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Develop Essential Skills for Managing Emotions, Relationships, and Stress
Begin Your Journey of Self-Discovery
What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a comprehensive, evidence-based treatment that combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness and acceptance strategies. Originally developed for borderline personality disorder, DBT has proven effective for a range of mental health concerns involving emotion dysregulation and impulsivity. By learning core DBT skills, you can improve your ability to manage intense emotions, navigate relationships, and create a life worth living.
How DBT Skills Can Empower You
☑️ Increase mindfulness and present-moment awareness
☑️ Regulate intense emotions and reduce impulsivity
☑️ Tolerate distress and cope with crises effectively
☑️ Communicate assertively and maintain healthy relationships
☑️ Balance acceptance and change for personal growth
☑️ Build a life aligned with your values and goals
Benefits of DBT Therapy
DBT has been clinically proven to help with numerous mental health concerns, including:
✓ Emotional dysregulation and mood instability
✓ Anxiety disorders and overwhelming stress
✓ Depression and persistent negative thoughts
✓ Self-destructive behaviors and impulsivity
✓ Relationship conflicts and communication problems
✓ Trauma responses and PTSD symptoms
✓ Eating disorders and body image issues
Our Approach to DBT
At Monika Breidenbach Counseling and Stress Management, as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), I provide DBT therapy focused on four essential skill modules:
Mindfulness Skills
Developing awareness of thoughts, emotions, and sensations in the present moment without judgment.
Emotion Regulation
Understanding, recognizing, and managing intense emotional responses.
Distress Tolerance
Learning to accept and survive crisis situations without making them worse.
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Communicating needs, setting boundaries, and maintaining self-respect while preserving relationships.
Through a balance of validation and behavior change strategies, I help you navigate the dialectic (opposing forces) of accepting yourself as you are while working toward positive change. This balanced approach creates a foundation for meaningful and lasting transformation.
What to Expect in DBT Therapy
Comprehensive Assessment
We begin with a thorough assessment of your current challenges, history, and goals for therapy. I'll introduce the DBT framework and help you understand how these skills can address your specific concerns. This initial phase helps us create a personalized treatment plan that prioritizes your most pressing needs.
Skills Training and Practice
In our sessions, you'll learn practical DBT skills through instruction, examples, and guided practice. We'll focus on mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness techniques that you can apply in real-life situations. You'll receive handouts and worksheets to reinforce learning and support between-session practice.
Application and Integration
As therapy progresses, we'll work on applying DBT skills to your daily life challenges. You'll learn to identify situations that trigger emotional distress and practice using your new skills effectively. Through ongoing practice and refinement, these techniques become natural responses that support your long-term emotional well-being and improved relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions About DBT Therapy
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While DBT was originally developed for more complex conditions, it has proven beneficial for many people dealing with everyday emotional and relationship challenges. Anyone who struggles with emotional intensity, stress management, or interpersonal difficulties can benefit from DBT skills. The approach is adaptable and can be tailored to different levels of need, from addressing specific issues to more comprehensive treatment for multiple concerns.
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Standard comprehensive DBT typically involves a 6-month commitment, but the length of treatment varies based on individual needs and goals. In my practice, I offer DBT-informed therapy that can be adapted to different timeframes. Some clients begin seeing improvements in emotional regulation and interpersonal skills within 8-12 sessions, while others benefit from longer-term work. We'll regularly assess your progress and adjust our approach to best support your growth.
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Yes, DBT therapy is covered by the major insurance plans I accept, including Aetna, BlueCross and BlueShield, Cigna and Evernorth, Optum, and UnitedHealthcare UHC | UBH. As an evidence-based treatment approach, DBT is recognized by most insurance providers. I also offer private pay options and provide superbills for out-of-network benefits. Please contact me to verify your specific coverage.
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Both DBT and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focus on the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. However, DBT places greater emphasis on emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and the dialectical balance between acceptance and change. While CBT primarily focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns, DBT adds mindfulness skills and interpersonal effectiveness strategies. DBT also emphasizes validation and acceptance alongside change strategies, making it particularly effective for emotional intensity and relationship difficulties.
Begin Your DBT Journey Today
Take the first step toward better emotional regulation, improved relationships, and greater life satisfaction. DBT offers practical skills and a balanced approach to help you create a life worth living, even in the face of challenges.