Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) was developed by Marsha M. Linehan in the late 1980s, as a means to more effectively treat chronically suicidal individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD). It is an evidence-based psychotherapy that emphasizes the psychosocial aspect of treatment. DBT is founded on the principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and blends concepts derived from Buddhist meditative practice such as awareness, mindfulness, and attentiveness to current situations and emotional experiences. The purpose of DBT is to provide clients with new skills to manage painful emotions and reduce conflicts in relationships.
DBT has a multifaceted, rigidly structured therapeutic approach that is comprised of weekly one-on-one psychotherapy sessions, weekly DBT skills training group sessions, and as-needed phone coaching. Each therapeutic setting has its own distinct purpose. The DBT group skills training sessions focus on teaching and practicing the four modules of DBT, which are: core mindfulness (focusing skills), distress tolerance (crisis survival skills), emotion regulation (de-escalation skills), and interpersonal effectiveness (social/ relationship skills). The one-on-one therapy sessions offer an individual the opportunity to go over any challenging situations that had arisen during the previous week as well as provide a space for the individual to review the lessons learned in the DBT skills training group sessions. Phone coaching provides an individual with twenty-four-hour access to support between sessions, should a crisis arise. The entire DBT program takes about six months to complete, as six weeks are allocated to each of the four modules.
DBT Therapy Near Woodland Hills
Woodland Hills is an upscale, family-friendly city in Los Angeles County, California, that is situated in the southwestern region of the San Fernando Valley. Woodland Hills is located east of Calabasas and west of Tarzana. On the north, it is bordered by West Hills, Canoga Park, Winnetka, and Reseda, and on the south by the Santa Monica Mountains. It is a suburb most known for its many parks, lavish green spaces, posh boutique shops, and an abundance of outdoor activities. Woodland Hills as well as the areas surrounding are home to many highly skilled mental health professionals specializing in dialectical behavior therapy.
It would be impossible to suggest a single DBT provider or DBT program near Woodland Hills is universally superior. The best DBT therapy in LA near Woodland Hills will depend on a variety of contributing factors and will yield the most successful long-term results when selected with the distinct and nuanced needs of the client in mind. An excellent resource when searching for DBT therapy near Woodland Hills is the DBT Clinical Resource Directory, as DBT professionals can be searched for by continent, country, and then state or province. This directory is maintained by Behavioral Tech and allows you to search for clinicians and programs that have gone through DBT training with Behavioral Tech, LLC, or the Behavioral Research & Therapy Clinics (BRTC) at the University of Washington.
The information above is provided for the use of informational purposes only. The above content is not to be substituted for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, as in no way is it intended as an attempt to practice medicine, give specific medical advice, including, without limitation, advice concerning the topic of mental health. As such, please do not use any material provided above to disregard professional advice or delay seeking treatment.
