Sometimes, your thoughts and feelings are too intense to manage on your own. When this happens, it’s important you turn to a qualified professional who can provide support and guidance while you recover.
If you’re having problems regulating your emotions, you’re displaying self-destructive behavior, or you find it difficult to maintain relationships with others, DBT therapy could be the solution you’ve been looking for to help you gain a healthier outlook on life and learn the skills you need to overcome difficult times.
What is DBT therapy?
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy used to identify negative thinking patterns and replace them with positive behavioral development.
It works by helping you accept the person you are in this moment and understand the reason why you behave in the way you do. With this knowledge and acceptance, you can begin working toward developing healthier habits and methods of coping with your personal challenges. A coping strategy that many therapists will help you with is “Radical acceptance“, this concept is based on the knowledge that suffering does not come from pain but instead it comes from your perception of pain or difficult times.
DBT therapy is broken down into three parts: individual therapy, group therapy, and phone coaching. Group therapy is the only part which needs to be done in person. Individual therapy and phone coaching can be done remotely using modern technology. However, some people prefer to talk face-to-face with a DBT therapist instead of over the phone or through a computer.
Finding DBT therapy near you
If you’d prefer the more personal approach of sitting in front of someone and discussing your problems, you need to find a DBT therapist near you. For DBT therapy to be successful, it’s important to be consistent and attend regular sessions with your therapist and classes in a group. Your chances of sticking with therapy are much higher if you can find a DBT therapist close to where you live or work.
Thankfully, finding DBT therapy near you is quite simple, wherever you live. In big cities like Jacksonville, Florida or Houston, Texas there are literally hundreds of registered DBT therapists currently practicing. Even in smaller cities such as Reno, Nevada or Trenton, New Jersey you’ll still find plenty of practicing DBT therapists.
There are several different ways to find DBT near you:
- Talk to your primary care physician. It’s likely your doctor has already referred some patients to DBT therapists and will know of the highest regarded ones in your local area.
- Ask your therapist. If you currently have a therapist who doesn’t offer DBT, there’s a good chance they can refer you to another therapist who specializes in this type of therapy.
- Call local universities, colleges or medical centers: Call the psychology or psychiatric departments of universities, colleges, and medical centers in your area. They may employee DBT therapists or may be able to refer you to one.
- Choose a Cyti Psychological therapist. Several of our certified therapists offer in-person DBT sessions. They’re based in California, where the sessions take place, but they offer remote therapy sessions in every state.
What to look for when searching for a DBT therapist
As DBT is a specific type of cognitive therapy, you can’t receive the treatment from just any therapist. Here’s what to look for when searching for a DBT therapist to make sure you’ll get the help you need:
- Certification: The first thing you need to check is that the therapist is certified. You can do this by finding their NPI number (often through a simple online search of their name and the word “therapist”) and looking it up on https://npiprofile.com/.
- Experience: How long has the therapist been practicing? More experience doesn’t necessarily make them a better therapist, but they will have more first-hand knowledge of helping different patients with a variety of problems.
- Reviews: Look at online reviews for the DBT therapists you’re considering. This will give you an unbiased view of what a session will really be like with them so you’ll know what to expect if you choose them.
- Availability: Make sure the therapists have appointments available for times which suit you. Committing to regular therapy sessions is much easier when they fit in with your schedule and you don’t have to make extra changes.
- Price: Price should never be the determining factor when choosing a DBT therapist, but it’s something you need to take into consideration. Is the therapy covered by your insurance? If not, can you afford to pay for regular sessions?
Read: 10 Therapists weigh in on the effectiveness of DBT >>
Reach out today
It doesn’t matter whether you’ve been struggling with emotional issues for years or you’ve just recently developed a borderline personality disorder, DBT therapy can help you. While you might think you have enough problems without having to locate the services of a certified DBT therapist, making the effort to find a suitable professional is the first step on your personal road to recovery.
Improving your mental health takes time and the sooner you begin, the sooner you’ll start to notice the difference. Reach out to someone and make a commitment to taking care of yourself and your mental health.
