Our therapists offer DBT / dialectical behavior therapy in Paramus, NJ

Dialectical behavioral therapy involves providing psychoeducation about multiple topics to help clients feel more in control of their emotions, have balanced thoughts, and improve relationships with others in their lives.

Dialectical behavioral therapy involves learning about the following topics:

• Mindfulness: Learning about how to keep yourself focused in the moment, to avoid ruminating on unpleasant thoughts and feelings, and how to be more observant of your thoughts and feelings rather than getting lost in them.
• Emotional regulation: Learning how to balance your emotional responses to take control of your emotions and not letting your emotions take control of you.
• Interpersonal effectiveness: Learning how to improve your relationships with others and how to communicate effectively.
• Distress tolerance: Learning about coping strategies to help ease unpleasant emotions and know how to manage these emotions effectively.

When clients report that they are feeling more in control of their emotions and thoughts, this is a good sign that they are making meaningful progress in their dialectical behavioral therapy!

Clients can supplement their time in dialectical behavioral therapy by practicing the skills discussed in sessions through the use of worksheets or journaling exercises provided to them by their therapist.

To prepare for your first dialectical behavioral therapy session, you can identify some of the main reasons that you want to come to therapy at this time. This can include a variety of reasons, but it would help the therapist to know what your motivation is for coming to therapy and what you'd like to see change. Also, keep in mind that your first session will likely involve being asked a lot of questions, but this is not the norm for every session! This is just for the therapist to get the background information that they need to help you move forward and make progress in therapy.