Dialectical Behavioural Therapy

Would Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Suit Me?

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) uses a combination of individual and small group sessions to help you change concerning behaviour. You learn skills that assist you to live your best life as defined by you. DBT is particularly suitable for:

  • Individuals who have trouble effectively controlling their emotions
  • People wanting to control or manage stress better.
  • Helping people with self destructive behaviours such as substance abuse and eating disorders.
  • Practicing new skills in a controlled environment before using them in real life.

What is Dialectical Behavioural Therapy?

DBT is part of the "Third Wave" of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and adapts CBT to help people to reduce stress. Learning modules include:

Core Mindfulness

Core Mindfulness is the foundation for the rest of the treatment. DBT uses a form of mindfulness, based upon the work of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, a pioneer of the Mindfulness movement.

Module Benefits include strategies to deal with dissociation, anxiety management and understanding the origins of psychological distress. Gradually you learn the beginnings of how to mindfully focus attention. You also learn how to direct your attention without judging yourself. As a result, If you are committed, you learn to use mindfulness skills to manage intense experiences, emotions and urges. You aim to experience moments of calm and connection.

Interpersonal Effectiveness

The second module is Interpersonal Effectiveness. Learn skills to cope with and improve relationships, and how to look after yourself within various types of relationships. If you are either passive or forceful in your interactions, this module will help. It assists you to be effective in your interactions without giving up your self-respect or autonomy.

Emotion Regulation

The third module is the Emotion Regulation. Learn a number of practical strategies to manage and change emotions. Become more robust in the face of emotional triggers. You find out how to enhance positive emotions, and increase positive feelings for example. You become more robust and resilient by understanding, regulating and working effectively with your feelings.

Distress Tolerance

The final DBT module is Distress Tolerance. Use the practical strategies in this module to increase your ability to tolerate the distress of the moment. At times in life when pain is unavoidable, the best course is to learn to accept and tolerate distress. A powerful aspect of the module is the Mindfulness practice of Radical Acceptance. Originally this is a Buddhist concept recognised as being very helpful. Cultivate your capacity to respond to intolerable experiences that can’t be changed, or that cause deep suffering.

How is Dialectical Behavioural Therapy delivered?

Lisa delivers the Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) program using a combination of small weekly group sessions and individual therapy. This combination helps you to integrate the skills into your day to day life. This is the main objective of DBT. The Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Program adheres to the Linehan clinical framework and is recognised as “DBT Comprehensive’. Program delivery follows the structure established by Marsha Linehan and Behaviour Tech and is aligned with Linehan’s current manual.

We minimise the number of people attending each group session to ensure that you feel comfortable within the group. Lisa is a certified Dialectical Behavioural Clinician and began practising DBT in 2016.

Individual DBT Therapy Sessions

We discuss how to adapt the information learned in the group to your personal situation and solve problems to gain the maximum learning experience. Phone coaching helps you practice the things you learn in the group sessions at home between sessions. DBT is an enjoyable and interesting way of creating the life you want to live in.

Skill Groups

Group work is grounded in a psychological educational approach and is run as a small group in a class like setting. The sessions involve handouts, lectures, and discussion, and participants have homework exercises and worksheets.

A DBT Comprehensive Program

  • 2.5 hours group per week
  • 1-hour individual therapy session per week
  • DBT Skills Group modules: Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotion Regulation.
'DBT is internationally recognized and used by many high-profile personalities to reduce emotional suffering and create positive change and wellbeing. 

Managing intense emotions, traumatic experiences and interpersonal relationships doesn’t need to negatively or dominantly affect your ability to function. You can achieve a sense of wellbeing by doing the work and creating a life worth living.'  — Lisa White

Websites/References

To find out whether DBT is right for you or your loved one, refer to:

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Lisa's Qualifications in this Area

  •   Certificate in Dialectical Behavioural Therapy
  •   Schema Therapy
  •   Diploma Narrative Approaches
  •   Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
  •   Level 2, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Practitioner
  •   Accredited Mindfulness Trainer
  •   Emotion Focussed Therapy
  •   Advanced Clinical Treatment for Complex Trauma

Meet Lisa

Lisa provides specialised therapy to individuals and couples. She is a qualified, compassionate, and experienced psychotherapist delivering personalised services. Her aim is to help you build healthy relationships within and with others for creating a rich and meaningful life.

BSW, Dip Narr, AMHSW, MACSW Clinical Div., Prof Aff APS

More About Lisa