Dialectical Behavior Therapy

DBT therapy supports healthy emotional regulation and effective interpersonal skills.

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CALL US (832) 559-2622

Dialectical Behavior Therapy
in Houston, TX and Online

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

The way the world is just gets me so down…
Sometimes I just get so ANGRY…
No one understands how I feel…

Do these phrases sound familiar? If so, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) may be right for you.

This long-standing form of talk therapy has been used across the board to support everyday people like yourself to instill emotional perseverance and “distress tolerance”. The goal is to support a positive quality of life, while improving communication in relationships, work environments, and beyond!

Let’s start with some commonly asked questions about DBT therapy.

What is DBT Therapy?

Similar to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), DBT is a form of talk therapy specifically designed to help those who experience emotions more fiercely. In fact, DBT was modeled after the client-driven framework of CBT to create a specialized form of talk therapy geared towards regulating emotions.

By learning to emote in a healthy and non-destructive way, we can support healthy relationships and prevent harm towards ourselves and others.

In Person & Online Therapy Available

You Can Thrive With
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Give us a call at 832-559-2622 to find out more about Dialectical Behavior Therapy in Houston. You can also schedule an appointment online with our counselors today. We have therapists near the Montrose, Heights & Sugar Land neighborhoods.

Get Started Now

CALL US (832) 559-2622

Who Can Benefit from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)?

DBT is commonly used to treat issues like:

Borderline personality
Self-harm
Suicidal ideation
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Substance use disorders
Anxiety
Depression
Eating disorders, such as binge eating and bulimia

Is DBT Right for Me?

Many people who benefit from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy are looking for better ways to cope with life. People are often surprised to find that DBT can be a source of support and validation.

Many people who start DBT have struggled with adverse coping mechanisms that weren’t working in their life.

One of the most foundational aspects of DBT is the idea that you are doing the best you can, and that’s enough. You may also need to make changes (build skills) and find healthy coping mechanisms to deal with the stress of life.

Here are some commonly shared experiences pre-therapy:

Drinking alcohol to cope with anxiety and stress
Emotional overeating
Staying in bed for long periods of time / to avoid obligations
Yelling at or withdrawing from other people
Picking or pinching skin to soothe distress
Feeling numb / staring into space

If you have experienced any of these common coping strategies, you aren’t alone. These common mechanisms are easy to pick up in the short term and may help to alleviate some of the pain of day-to-day life. However, you’re looking for a better way to soothe your pain.

That’s why DBT treatment can be so beneficial.

DBT Therapy is About Skill-Building

There are several aspects of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy that contribute to building a healthy strategy for emotional expression. While it may take time to build these skills, practice makes perfect.

DBT is structured to build foundational skills for emotional regulation by limiting harmful behaviors. By being brave and trying out new skills in your day-to-day life, you are practicing the skills that have the potential to build your future and change your life.

Moreover, emotional regulation allows you to feel emotions free of judgment. When we see our feelings as information rather than something we choose to experience, we can make better decisions free of the guilt or shame that comes with trying to change what is out of our control.

Radical Acceptance

A core value of DBT is the idea of radical acceptance: accepting ourselves and our experiences for what they are. To practice radical acceptance is to allow yourself to experience your world without judging your internal reactions.

Even though some feelings can be scary to get to know, they are there for a reason. We don’t need to punish ourselves for the emotions we experience. Rather, we can learn from them and discover what’s truly happening in our own internal experience.

DBT Teaches Distress Tolerance

When life gets hectic, sometimes it can be hard to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Instead, daily life bogs us down with worries, strained relationships, trouble at work, and emotional turmoil.

Sometimes, the internal voice inside can sound more like a menace, replaying both disappointments and fears. These messages can get stuck on a loop, playing internal thoughts like:

“I don’t do anything right”
“What did I do to deserve this?”
“I’m the worst!”
“No one cares about me / I’m not worth caring about”
“I’m too much / not enough”
“No one likes me”

These ‘all or nothing’ statements can get blown out of proportion, and we start to believe the lies that play in our mind.

That’s why distress tolerance is so important. By learning to identify these negative thought patterns, you can more easily identify the core emotion.

“I’m the worst” is a negative statement, but the emotion behind it could imply shame or guilt over an action. By identifying the feeling behind the thoughts, we can more easily understand what’s happening internally.

As a result, we’re better prepared to accept the things we cannot change. Without the overwhelming stress that builds when we feel pressured to accomplish goals outside of our influence, we can better change what we do have control over.

Self-soothing techniques, mindfulness skills, and other mental reframing tools can help you accept yourself and your own emotions, while also reminding yourself that it’s ok to feel.

top therapist in houston and sugar land texas

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) FAQ's

What are DBT Skills Groups?

A DBT skills group provides an opportunity to learn the core skills of DBT.

These groups are meant to show you that you are not alone in your struggle.

DBT skills groups are one component of DBT therapy and are part of a comprehensive DBTtreatment plan.

We offer the following DBT Skills Groups:

Do you offer online DBT therapy?

Our DBT therapists offer individual DBT therapy and DBT skills groups online and in person.

How long is DBT therapy?

The length of therapy will vary depending on your specialized therapy plan. Typically, 6 months – 1 year of DBT treatment is a general rule of care. However, it is important to have positive expectations for yourself post-therapy.

You may not be symptom-free following your one year follow-up, and that’s normal. Emotional regulation is a unique and very personalized process.

Inherently, learning emotional regulation skills through DBT is a subjective experience, and the time it takes to complete therapy will vary from person to person.

Consider Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Help is available, and our goal is to provide you with a better quality of life as you build confidence in your own abilities and strengths.

We’re here to help you live your best life possible. Schedule an appointment with us or learn more about how DBT works, and continue your radical acceptance journey.