Steps from the Green Line
Dialectical Behavior Therapy in Boston
We all feel emotions, but for some of us, those emotions become so big and all-consuming that it can become difficult to function.
For example, instead of being able to handle and use stress to help you power through your dissertation or work deadline, the stress becomes all-consuming, and you cannot work at all, much less meet your deadline.
If you are having trouble with emotion regulation and distress, we can help. Here at Back Bay Mental Health in Boston, MA, as part of our IOP* you’ll have access to dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and other treatments to help you manage the symptoms of your disorders, calm intense emotions, and prepare with the specific skills you need to thrive the best you can.
What is DBT Therapy?
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a talking therapy based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). It can be used as an alternative to cognitive behavioral therapy or alongside CBT.
DBT is essentially a type of therapy that works to help you accept yourself and make the changes that will help you reach your individualized goals. It is an evidence-based treatment that can help teens, young adults, and adults learn how to manage their intense emotions and moods without going into crisis.
These two outcomes are not the opposite. Acceptance can help you shake off feelings of shame, anger, or anxiety that you turn towards yourself. We will then help you learn and develop the skills you need to thrive.
What Conditions Can Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Help With?
Dialectical behavior therapy is a great individual therapy and group session option for those who:
- Experience suicidal ideation
- Self-harm
- Engage in substance abuse
- Have depression
- Have an eating disorder
Of course, everyone responds to therapy differently. Since we focus on treating individuals rather than conditions, we will monitor how effective DBT is for you throughout your treatment plan with us.
If DBT doesn’t work, you’ll shift gears and try something else. Similarly, we may recommend you first start other treatments, like acceptance and commitment therapy, before beginning a group or individual DBT.
How Does Dialectical Behavior Therapy in Massachusetts Work?
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) does not necessarily reduce symptoms or their intensity. Instead, it helps you manage them better. The techniques you can learn from our trained therapists can help you with emotion regulation so you can build a life worth living on your own two feet.
What are the Benefits of Dialectical Behavior Therapy?
You will typically work on two types of skills in dialectical behavioral therapy. The first is acceptance, where you learn to forgive and treat yourself with grace.
The second goal is to learn coping skills that help you throughout your day. These new skills can help you learn how to manage difficult emotions or, at least, teach you the essential skills needed to accept the emotions as temporary so they can wash over you more quickly.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy can teach you essential coping skills:
Distress Tolerance
Distress tolerance is one of the key new skills you’ll cover in individual therapy or group sessions. The goal is to help you learn to deal with crisis emotions without resorting to dangerous or harmful behavior. Learning emotional regulation and distress tolerance is essential for improving your ability to face unexpected challenges throughout your day.
Boosted Interpersonal Effectiveness
On top of distress tolerance, you will also learn interpersonal effectiveness. Interpersonal effectiveness skills help you with your relationships. During this skills training, you may work on understanding why you have relationship problems and how to improve and repair those relationships.
Improved Emotional Regulation
Emotion dysregulation can make even simple tasks feel insurmountable. If you struggle with bipolar or BPD in university, for example, your mood swings can make it difficult to go to class, complete assignments, or even take care of yourself. That’s why we work with you to improve your emotion regulation. These skills help increase your awareness and overall control over your emotions.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness emotion regulation means staying present (or looking at the future in a positive light). If you struggle with thinking the worst or focus endlessly on the past, then mindfulness can help you learn how to forgive your “weaknesses” of the past and make it easier to stay present. For these reasons, mindfulness is usually used right at the start of each DBT session (group or otherwise).
Do You Qualify for Dialectical Behavior Therapy?
Dialectical behavioral therapy was originally designed to treat those with personality disorders like borderline personality disorder and, in some cases, substance abuse disorders. It can be used effectively for those with mood disorders, depression, or those who self-harm. We evaluate all of our new clients. During this assessment, we will work to understand your condition and even diagnose you if we can. We’ll only offer you dialectical behavioral therapy if we believe it’s a good fit for your recovery.
Can You Get DBT Individual Therapy?
While most DBT therapy is done through groups, you can get individual therapy for DBT. These one-on-one sessions are typically used for those whose behavior interferes with their other treatments. The goal now is to learn skills that will help you improve your quality of life and put you in a healthier headspace where you can start group sessions.
Benefits of Choosing Back Bay Mental Health for Your Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
We can help you improve your interpersonal effectiveness, boost your distress tolerance, and help you improve your behavioral health. We can do this because we offer more than just dialectical behavioral therapy. Yes, you can start DBT with us, but you will also have access to:
- Other psychotherapy treatments like CBT
- Psychiatrists
- Medication management
- Holistic treatments
- Group therapy
- and more
As an intensive outpatient clinic*, we can help you with a comprehensive and in-depth treatment plan. This way, those who are struggling with self-harm and other dangerous behavioral health issues can get regular sessions with their therapist and group counselor.
Our intensive outpatient program* gives you access to various program treatments with a licensed therapist. Since each treatment program is designed for you and only you, we can adjust and adapt your treatment plan based on what’s working for you.
Get Started with Your Very Own Personalized Treatment Program in Boston Today
We offer comprehensive care in luxury facilities in the heart of Boston, MA. Our location makes us perfectly suited for students who want to fit in regular sessions between their courses or exam season or working professionals who need to fit therapy around work or family commitments. We also have extended opening hours, so if you would benefit from evening DBT sessions, we can help.
DBT is just one of the tools we offer as part of our IOP*. Those struggling with anxiety, personality disorders, or life in general would benefit from regulation and interpersonal effectiveness and will have access to a range of therapies.
To access our DBT program and many other therapies, get in touch with our team to learn more about IOP* Mental Health in Boston’s Back Bay.