How DBT Works
What is DBT?
Grounded in solid research, DBT is a type of behavior therapy with undeniable success in bringing people out through pain and closer to their life worth living. It stands for Dialectical behavior therapy: dialectical here meaning holding many things true at the same time.
At Full Focus Therapy, we use the skills from the four modules of DBT and put them to work for LGTBQ+ adults. Our work is grounded in the philosophy of DBT and we use that guiding philosophy to help people move through anxiety and depression.
Please note: if you are seeking full service comprehensive DBT, which involves in-person individual sessions, group therapy, and phone coaching, that is not currently available at Full Focus Therapy as we are a fully online practice. We offer virtual therapy sessions grounded in the theory and techniques of DBT and designed to work with people from the LGBTQ+ community.
DBT utilizes four major principles for the utmost clarity and results.
Mindfulness
One of the main ideas in Mindfulness is that each person has a wise mind within them. To reach this wise mind, you need to use both your feelings and the information you have. If you ignore your emotions, you will be blocked from accessing empathy and your own experience. And if you ignore your logic, you'll miss the facts and the long-term view. When you combine both the emotion side and the logic side, you can find your wise mind.
Emotional Regulation
The Emotion Regulation module aims to reduce suffering caused by emotions and increase comfort with the full range of emotions. The first step is to understand and name emotions and their intensity. Then interpret the valuable information conveyed by emotions so you can cope with them effectively.
Distress Tolerance
Some problems have no solution and we can't avoid all pain. This module helps us accept that fact. In Distress Tolerance, we refer to these skills as "fire extinguisher skills" because they're what we use during a crisis. How do you handle an emergency without making it worse? And once you survive the immediate life-or-death situation, how do you come to terms with it and move on to live the rest of your life? Distress Tolerance provides the answers.
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Connection to others brings sweetness to life. Conflict and trouble with closeness can damage self-esteem and overall life satisfaction. Not everyone knows how to resolve conflicts or stand up for themselves. Interpersonal skills can help bridge these gaps. Whether you have few or many relationships, these skills can improve your sense of belonging and create more fulfilling friendships, romantic relationships, and community connections.
Articles About DBT
Every big journey starts with the first step.
We know that choosing a therapy practice can be both exciting and scary. If you’re feeling ready to begin your mental health journey, schedule a free 20-minute consultation today.
Attentional control is one of the tools in your toolbox that helps you zoom the focus back out, such that you can be aware of what else is happening in the world, beyond the threat. We’re not ignoring the stern look or the sense of doom here- we stay aware of the threat’s existence. We just zoom out the lens a little bit so that we notice what else is happening at the same time.