When you are unable to manage intense emotions, daily tasks, or you struggle with interpersonal stress and conflicts, you may resort to desperate measures to manage the overwhelming and painful emotions. These may involve acting without thought and intention, engaging in destructive relationships, avoiding responsibilities, getting quick relief from self-harm, or using substances to numb emotions. DBT is research supported skill-based treatment that is highly effective for individuals who struggle with managing intense emotions, destructive behaviors, and relational conflicts. I provide DBT in individual weekly sessions with pre-teens, teens, and adults. By learning coping skills, effective communication, and interpersonal skills you can greatly improve your overall quality of life and well-being.

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I have a strong clinical interest in the way people cope with intense emotions and overwhelming life circumstances. Through my doctoral research I analyzed coping styles, attachment, and development of young adult women who attempted suicide between the ages of 16 and 23. This research has shed light on how suicidality interacts with a person's difficulty to cope with unbearable emotional pain, and the desire to numb or escape this overwhelmingly painful experience. DBT is the most effective research-based treatment for individuals who struggle with suicidal thoughts, self-harm, and problems coping with difficult and intense emotions. 

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Goals that you can achieve through DBT include:

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• Learn to regulate and calm the body and nervous system 

• Manage difficult and intense emotions

• Learn to effectively communicate needs to others and reduce interpersonal conflict 

• Increase self-awareness in present moment

• Develop deeper understanding of self and increase self-acceptance

• Reduce vulnerability to intense emotions

• Increase opportunity for positive emotions

• Learn healthy ways of coping

• Increase ability to assert needs effectively

• Learn to build and keep healthy relationships