Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Mood Disorder Treatment

Do you feel that your thoughts and behaviors are ruled by your emotions?  This is a common experience of those with mood disorders.  The symptoms of mood disorders and other mental health disorders, particularly borderline personality disorder, can derail a person’s life.  One treatment that has been found effective in improving an individual’s emotional well-being, as well as other aspects of their life (work, relationships, safety, communication) is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).  DBT was initially used to treat individuals diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, with an emphasis on treating suicidal and self-harming behaviors.  In addition to decreasing self-harm and chronic suicidal behaviors, DBT has been proven clinically effective in decreasing symptoms associated with other disorders such as PTSD, mood disorders, ADHD and binge eating disorders.

DBT has its roots grounded in six main points that were developed from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):  Acceptance, Behavioral, Cognitive, Skill Sets, Collaboration and Support.  Standard outpatient DBT can be administered through group therapy, individual therapy and phone coaching.  There are a total of four modules in DBT, which consist of skill sets that help build distress tolerance, emotion regulation, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness.  DBT can be used in treating adults and adolescents.

If you suffer from chronic suicidal and/or self-harming thoughts and behaviors, DBT may be for you.  I provide individual DBT therapy at AdultSpan Counseling and will work with you to learn skills that can help you get “unstuck” from the extremes associated with emotional sensitivity, validate your feelings and accept you and the situations you are experiencing right now, and develop goals for changing behaviors that may have helped you survive or cope in the past but aren’t effective in the long-term.  DBT will teach you how to be your own case manager or therapist.  It provides empowerment and motivation.  

If you would like to learn more, please feel free to call 402-325-0117 x4 or book an appointment online today to schedule an intake session.  I am accepting new clients and am available weekdays, some evenings, and Saturdays.

You CAN have a life worth living!  

Carla Hammer, MS, PLMHP

Adultspan Counseling
1001 S. 70th Street, Suite #225
Lincoln, NE 68510