Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy in Kansas City & greater Missouri
In-person and online Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for sensitive adults and teens to help with emotional intensity, sensory sensitivity, black-and- white thinking, impulsivity, and other types of neurodivergent difficulties.
Can you relate?
Like many of my DBT clients, maybe you’ve felt the following:
Easily overwhelmed by your environment (e.g. noisy crowds, bright lights, strong smells, or uncomfortable clothing, etc)
Feel your emotions much stronger than others seem to
Have been told that you are ‘too sensitive,’ ‘too dramatic,’ or ‘too much’
Feel like you’re wired slightly different from other people
Identify as a highly sensitive person, an empath, or someone with some other traits of neurodivergence
Have wondered if you are neurodivergent but can’t put your finger on what’s going on
Have deep thoughts and deep feelings, but sometimes find it difficult to relate to others
Often feel misunderstood or alone in the world
My Approach to DBT Treatment
I have adapted the Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) model to my solo practice for those who prefer a more individualized approach without the time commitment of an intensive group program. My approach still involves the basic tenets of the DBT model including dialectical thought work, behavior change strategies, mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal skills work. I also often incorporate elements of identity/self-esteem work and trauma counseling into my DBT approach as many of my clients have experienced chronic shame and/or bullying related to their differences. We can incorporate some or all of these components into our work together depending on what you need.
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Similar to cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), in DBT thought work we examine extreme and/or black and white thinking. We will examine the merits of certain types of thoughts (e.g. “no one loves me” or “I will be depressed forever”), what traumas likely led to them, situations these thoughts do and do not serve you, and more balanced ways to think about a given situation that can lead to more peace and effective solutions.
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We will identify your specific emotional sensitivities based on your developmental history and possible attachment traumas. On an as needed basis, we will identify what barriers get in the way of positive emotion regulation activities including sleep routines, nutrition, physical activity, social interaction, and positive activities and work on ways to establish easy-ish healthy habits.
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We will learn basic mindfulness strategies that include the ability to observe and label emotional states, thought patterns, sensory experiences, and relaxed states. We will work to cultivate nonjudgmental awareness and relaxed emotional states to make them more accessible in the event of heightened emotions.
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Distress tolerance is all about learning how to navigate crises with more equanimity and calm. It’s not about eliminating crises from our lives but learning how to not add gasoline to the fire when our lives seem to be burning down around us. I often teach clients how to regulate through a panic attack, a fight with a partner, a terrible day at work, or any other situation that makes them over-the-top dysregulated.
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My DBT clients often come in with impulsive, addictive, or emotionally disruptive behavior that they would like to change (e.g. acting out in their relationships, having meltdowns at work, compulsive substance use or spending, or attention and executive functioning difficulties. We will use behavior change strategies to analyze these behaviors, better understand what maintains them, and take steps to change them.
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Many of my DBT clients come in with relationship difficulties of some kind. This could be with friends, coworkers, family, or a partner. We often work together to make sense of the different types of relationship chaos that are going on. Then, we work on boundaries and communication skills to help you protect your sense of identity while staying close to the people that matter to you.
FAQs about DBT
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DBT was originally developed for individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and BPD traits. However, it has been found to be effective for any person who experiences strong emotional highs and lows or black and white thinking. This includes highly sensitive people (HSP’s), empaths, expressives, ADHDers, those on the autism spectrum, and other types of over-thinkers and over-feelers. If you tend to feel overwhelmed by your emotions, you’ve come to the right place.
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Many of my clients come in asking this question. We will definitely evaluate you for this during the course of therapy! The DSM criteria for BPD can be found here. I usually look for a pervasive instability of moods, relationships, behaviors, and identity that have existed across a variety of contexts. Some of my clients simply find out that they are highly sensitive people or struggling with another mental health difficulty. Others, end up with a BPD diagnosis that makes them feel like everything finally makes sense. (Visit my BPD page for more information on BPD).
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The term “empath” is not really a scientific concept included in the psychology literature. However, many people self-identify as empaths when they feel deeply attuned to subtleties in their environment, especially the feelings and moods of those around them. The closest concept to an “empath” in the psychological literature is a highly sensitive person (HSP). HSP’s think and feel deeply, are attuned to subtleties in their environment, and are much more affected by sensory information than other people. As of late, this concept has also come to be somewhat conflated with the concept of being autistic. To learn more about high sensitivity, you can review Elaine Aron’s work on the topic here and take the Highly Sensitive Person Test here.
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There is much debate going on now about the overlaps and differences between being highly sensitive, autistic and/or having BPD. To read more on this topic, I recommend exploring the articles here and here and here. The short version of the story is that there are similarities and differences between being highly sensitive, having BPD, and being on the autism spectrum. Through the course of therapy, we will determine which - if any - of these concepts best describes your symptoms and lived experience and how best to treat any difficulties that might come along with this. Also, it’s worth noting that I don’t do full autism testing, but we will evaluate you for each of these diagnoses.
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As a therapist, I evaluate my client’s for mental health diagnoses throughout their course of treatment with me. I always screen for signs of BPD, high sensitivity, ADHD, Autism Spectrum, and other mental health conditions. However, additional neuropsych testing is required to receive a conclusive diagnosis of ADHD or Autism Spectrum. I don’t provide this neuropsych testing but can give you an initial screening to help determine if further testing is needed. You can find additional resources for Autism & ADHD neuropsych testing here and here as well as many other testing facilities in the Kansas City area. If you have further questions about this, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Why choose me for DBT Counseling?
As a highly sensitive person, I am quite familiar with the highs and lows of living on an emotional roller-coaster. I’m not here to judge you; I’m here to level with you, help you find your power, and restore peace and calm in your life!
I provide DBT in an individual counseling setting which might be more ideal for you if you don’t prefer a group setting or don’t have the time to commit to a full DBT program. My approach is also ideal for someone who simply wants additional support after leaving a DBT program.
Many of my clients have provided feedback that their DBT work with me has helped them incorporate new skills into their daily lives in a way that feels simple and achievable.
