Anxiety can feel like a relentless battle. Racing thoughts, overwhelming fear, and physical discomfort can make it hard to live your life to the fullest. If you’ve tried other treatments without success, or if you’re looking for a more comprehensive and personalized approach, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) may be the answer.
At the Center for Effective Treatment in Boulder, Colorado, we offer a unique approach to DBT for anxiety. We combine evidence-based techniques with a deep understanding of the underlying causes of your struggles. Our compassionate therapists provide a safe and supportive space for you to heal, grow, and reclaim your life from anxiety.
What is DBT for Anxiety?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of therapy that was originally developed to treat borderline personality disorder. However, it has proven to be highly effective for a wide range of mental health concerns, including anxiety.
DBT focuses on teaching you practical skills to:
- Mindfulness: Increase your awareness of your thoughts, feelings, and sensations in the present moment. This helps you to observe your anxiety without getting swept away by it.
- Distress Tolerance: Develop healthy ways to cope with difficult emotions and situations. This can involve learning techniques like distraction, self-soothing, and radical acceptance.
- Emotion Regulation: Understand and manage your emotions effectively. This includes identifying your emotions, understanding their triggers, and developing strategies to regulate them.
- Interpersonal Effectiveness: Improve your communication and relationship skills. This can help you to assert your needs, set boundaries, and navigate conflict in a healthy way.
When applied to anxiety, DBT helps you to:
- Identify your anxiety triggers: Recognize the situations, thoughts, or feelings that tend to provoke your anxiety.
- Manage physiological responses: Learn techniques to calm your body’s anxiety response, such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and mindfulness exercises.
- Challenge anxious thoughts: Identify and challenge negative or unhelpful thought patterns that contribute to your anxiety.
How Does DBT Differ from Other Anxiety Treatments?
DBT for anxiety is unique in its emphasis on balancing acceptance and change. It helps you to accept your anxiety as a valid experience while also empowering you to make positive changes in your life.
Here’s how DBT compares to other common anxiety treatments:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): While both DBT and CBT focus on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, DBT places more emphasis on acceptance, emotional regulation, and mindfulness.
- Medication: DBT can be used in conjunction with medication, but it focuses on developing skills and strategies that can provide long-term relief from anxiety, even after medication is discontinued.
- Other Therapies: DBT differs from other therapies in its structured approach, which includes individual therapy, group skills training, and phone coaching.
What are the Benefits of DBT for Anxiety?
DBT has been shown to be effective in reducing anxiety symptoms and improving overall quality of life. Some of the key benefits of DBT for anxiety include:
- Reduced anxiety symptoms: Decreased frequency and intensity of anxiety attacks, worry, and fear.
- Improved coping skills: Ability to manage anxiety triggers and cope with stressful situations more effectively.
- Increased self-awareness: Greater understanding of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to anxiety.
- Enhanced quality of life: Increased ability to engage in activities, pursue goals, build meaningful relationships, and improve emotion regulation with DBT.
DBT can be a powerful tool for managing anxiety, but it’s not the right fit for everyone. Here are some signs that DBT might be a good option for you:
- You’ve tried other treatments without lasting success: If you’ve tried therapy, medication, or other approaches to manage your anxiety but haven’t found long-term relief, DBT may offer a new perspective and skillset.
- You struggle with intense emotions: DBT is particularly helpful for people who experience intense emotions, such as anxiety, anger, or sadness, that are difficult to manage.
- You engage in self-destructive behaviors: If you use unhealthy coping mechanisms to deal with your anxiety, such as substance abuse, self-harm, or disordered eating, DBT can help you develop healthier alternatives.
- You’re committed to making changes: DBT requires active participation and a willingness to learn new skills and apply them to your life.
It’s important to note that DBT may not be suitable for individuals who are currently experiencing:
- Active suicidal ideation or behaviors: If you’re experiencing a mental health crisis, it’s important to seek immediate professional help.
- Severe psychosis or mania: DBT may not be appropriate for individuals experiencing these symptoms, as they may require different types of treatment.
If you’re unsure whether DBT is right for you, scheduling a consultation with us can help you make an informed decision.
How is Our DBT For Anxiety Approach Different?
At the Center for Effective Treatment, we offer a unique and personalized approach to DBT for anxiety. Here’s what sets us apart:
DBT Group Therapy in Boulder:
Our DBT group therapy program provides a supportive and interactive environment where you can learn and practice DBT skills alongside others. This can enhance motivation, provide valuable feedback, and foster a sense of community.
Integrating EMDR Therapy:
We often integrate Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy with DBT to address the root causes of your anxiety, such as past trauma or negative experiences. EMDR can help you process and reframe these experiences, leading to deeper healing and lasting relief.
Focus on the “Why”:
We don’t just focus on managing your anxiety symptoms. We delve deep into understanding the underlying causes of your anxiety, whether it’s past trauma, relationship patterns, or self-destructive behaviors. This allows us to create a truly personalized treatment plan that addresses your unique needs.
The Therapist Who Says “Yes”:
Many of our clients come to us after feeling dismissed or misunderstood by other therapists. We specialize in working with individuals who may have been told they’re “too complex” or “not a good fit” for traditional DBT. We believe everyone deserves compassionate and effective care.
In-Person and Online DBT in Boulder:
We offer both in-person and online DBT therapy sessions to provide flexibility and convenience. This allows you to access high-quality care from the comfort of your own home or our Boulder office.
How Do I Get Started with DBT for Anxiety at the Center for Effective Treatment?
Ready to take the first step towards a life with less anxiety? Here’s how to get started with DBT at the Center for Effective Treatment:
- Schedule a Consultation: Contact us to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced DBT therapists. This is an opportunity to discuss your needs, ask questions, and learn more about our approach.
- Complete an Assessment: During your consultation, we’ll gather information about your history and current challenges to determine if DBT is the right fit for you.
- Begin Individual Therapy: If DBT is appropriate, we’ll work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan that includes individual therapy sessions.
- Join DBT Skills Group: You’ll also have the opportunity to participate in our DBT skills group, where you’ll learn and practice essential skills with others.
We understand that reaching out for help can be difficult. We strive to make the process as simple and comfortable as possible. Our compassionate therapists are here to support you every step of the way.
DBT for Anxiety to Change Your Life
Anxiety doesn’t have to control your life. DBT for anxiety offers a path to greater peace, resilience, and well-being. At the Center for Effective Treatment in Boulder, we provide a unique and personalized approach to DBT that can help you overcome anxiety and live a fulfilling life.
If you’re ready to experience the transformative power of DBT, we encourage you to schedule a consultation today. Our therapists are here to listen, understand, and guide you on your journey to healing. Schedule a consultation today.