My Teen Was Just Referred to a DBT Program, Now What?!

teen frustrated and discouraged

The first step, breathe. DBT is an intensive therapy program for people struggling with emotion dysregulation, life-threatening behaviors, substance use, etc. So, while I know I don’t know your *exact* struggles, I can only imagine the stress you’re under in trying to help keep your teen safe while also managing other areas of life like … Read more

ADHD: Self-Blame, Poor Self-Esteem, and Shame

girl sad adhd dbt skills

Were you aware that self-blame, poor self-esteem, and shame are frequently common symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder? It’s not a very known fact that these emotions are often common symptoms of ADHD, and it’s essential to understand how they can sometimes lead to the condition being overlooked or misdiagnosed. ADHD is often associated with … Read more

Exposure for Social Anxiety

social anxiety, hiding in bed

Exposure therapy is an evidence-based intervention whereby a person chooses to expose themselves to a feared emotion, situation, or mental imagery to create new associations and decrease reactivity and distress. Exposure therapy is effective for reducing suffering that is generated through repeatedly avoiding situations that are perceived to be dangerous, but do not result in … Read more

DBT Skills for the Neurodivergent Soul

neurodivergent brain dbt skills adhd asd

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is the gold standard treatment for borderline personality disorder (BPD) because of how it balances acceptance and change. DBT sees BPD as an emotion dysregulation disorder. BPD is not the only mental disorder that struggles with emotion dysregulation. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) also have large … Read more

What is a suicide safety plan?

writing on paper making suicide safety plan

When a person who is struggling with suicidal thoughts, urges, or behaviors presents for an intake session at a dialectical behavior therapy clinic, the mental health therapist will conduct a thorough assessment of suicidality to really understand the suicidality in more depth. Often, individuals appreciate knowing more details about what they can expect from this … Read more

Mindfulness Meditation

mindfulness

What is mindfulness? It is being aware of daily behaviors that have become automatic; being fully present and observing without judgment. Mindfulness also is attending to each new moment, not getting attached to the past or grabbing for the future. We are constantly taking in information and so much of this is done unconsciously. When … Read more

Narcissistic Tendencies and Shame

cat looking in mirror and seeing lion narcissism

Individuals who meet the criteria for narcissistic personality disorder have an inflated sense of self-importance. They are preoccupied with power, beauty, and success; they have a strong need for admiration; and they have a tendency toward arrogance and a lack of empathy in interpersonal situations. Narcissistic tendencies, like other personality dimensions, are on a spectrum. … Read more

Stop Bullying Yourself!

Why Being Non-Judgmental Can Lead to Changed Behavior Our brains judge naturally. It’s part of our brain’s natural process of gathering information about the world and trying to make sense of it. While there is a time and place for judgments, a lot of the judgments we have, cause dysregulation for us in our day-to-day … Read more

EMDR- Treats more than PTSD!

trees, light, prism, hand pointing to sun

EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a widely accepted treatment for PTSD. It has been recognized as a top trauma treatment by organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), American Psychiatric Association (APA), Department of Veterans Affairs & Department of Defense, and SAHMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices. This process … Read more