Anxiety Therapy: Is DBT right for me?
Are you or someone you love and care for one of the 19% of US Americans that have struggled with anxiety in the last year? (1) In addition to the well-known symptoms of racing thoughts and feelings of panic, anxiety symptoms can include less known things like difficulty concentrating, fatigue, feelings of restlessness, irritability, and sleep distress. (2)
Not all types of anxiety therapy and treatment are the same…
Even mild symptoms of anxiety can have a major impact on life quality and overall happiness. So what are the effective forms of anxiety treatment and how do you select a form of anxiety therapy that may be right for you? In this series were are exploring several of the most popular forms of anxiety therapy so that you can determine what kind of anxiety therapy may be a good starting place for you.
So what is DBT?
DBT therapy stands for Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. DBT is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy that has a few more specific elements to it. DBT is a skill-based curriculum that focuses on building skills in 4 major areas:
Distress tolerance
Emotional regulation
Mindfulness
Interpersonal effectiveness (the skills to maintain healthy relationships)
By building skills in these specific areas individuals are able to manage distressing thought patterns and improve healthy behavioral choices. (3)
Does DBT work to treat anxiety? Is it a valid form of Anxiety therapy?
The research does indicate that DBT is an effective form of anxiety therapy. It is specifically validated for those with anxiety as a part of more complex comorbidities or co-occurring mental health concerns, especially for those that struggle significantly with feelings of emotional overwhelm or experience significant emotional dysregulation. (4)
So what should I know about DBT?
DBT therapy is a validated intervention for multiple kinds of anxiety as well as co-occurring mental health challenges, but there are a few things you should know in determining if DBT therapy may be a good option for you.
DBT is a skill-based therapy intervention model. This means that individuals are supported in learning and implementing the skills of the DBT model. The focus is on skill formation, not so much on verbal processing or sharing specific stories or experiences.
DBT requires homework. Because DBT therapy is a skill-based model, most DBTtherapistst encourage if not require homework or the practice of skills between sessions.
DBT can be completed in a group in an individual format. If you are interested in more of a group therapy format for skill development, there are DBT groups that are a great fit for many people. Be advised that because many skills build upon one another, there are often specific times to start the group or when new members are accepted.
The main tool of DBT is in the form of worksheets, and there are a LOT of them! Some people love this and feel empowered to have tools to work through and reference, and others may feel a bit more overwhelmed or bogged down by the intensity of the structure.
Lastly, many clients report that pieces of DBT sound helpful to them, and other aspects miss the mark when it comes to addressing their unique needs and experiences. The great part about anxiety therapy and working individually with a trained anxiety therapist is that we can use pieces of more than one evidence-based model to tailor an approach just for you and your needs. It does not have to be a one size fits all approach to your healing and anxiety therapy journey.
Are you interested in learning more about DBT or if it could be the right anxiety treatment for you and your anxiety treatment journey? Are you ready to start something new and pursue the next steps in anxiety therapy? With online therapy options and in-person options in our Arlington, TX-based therapy office our team is ready to help. Our team of therapists is trained in evidence-based models for effective anxiety therapy treatment and can also work with co-occurring trauma, addiction, and more. We have options to help meet your anxiety treatment needs. Connect with us today to start the next steps in your anxiety therapy journey to healing. .
