Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of therapy that teaches skills to help regulate intense emotions that feel out of control. The goal of DBT is to learn how to change your own behavior, emotions and thoughts that are linked to problems that cause misery and distress. DBT teaches skills of Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotion Regulation and Distress Tolerance over the course of 6-12 months that coincides with individual therapy. DBT believes that “we may not have caused all of our problems, but we are the only ones who can fix them.” At Lighthouse Counseling we integrate faith truths into the DBT skills to help you create, not only a life worth living, but a life worth loving!

Mindfulness is one of the core learning objectives by-which you can learn to live in the “here and now” through skills such as observing, describing and participating while being one-mindful in keeping a non-judgmental stance toward yourself and others. You will also learn how to accept things as they are, not as they should be or the way you wish they were in order to not allow the overwhelming emotions take over. Acceptance does not mean approval of what is happening. It means accepting it as a way to cope and not make things worse than they already are. The other skills of Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation and Interpersonal Effectiveness will help with how to cope wisely with whatever life throws your way. Mindfulness is the beginning of change.

At Lighthouse Counseling we offer two DBT groups:  One group meets on Tuesday evenings from 5:30-7:00pm; and the second group meets on Wednesday mornings from 10:00-11:30am.

Talk with your therapist if you are interested in joining one of the groups. The only requirement is that you must remain in individual therapy during the time you are in group therapy. How often you go to individual therapy is between you and your therapist.