DBT
Emotional invalidation: Why childhood abuse is inherently invalidating
What is emotional dysregulation? Emotional dysregulation is a DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) term used to describe a core problem many people face – difficulty in managing emotions. If you’re emotionally dysregulated, you have a lot of strong emotions that come on quickly and take a while to pass. You say and do things when you’re…
Read MoreDo you feel too much or too little?
As a San Francisco DBT therapist, I work with people who have a hard time managing their emotions. You might describe this as having emotions that are too big or too small (you feel too much or too little). Emotions that are too big happen fast, are overwhelming and can take a long time to…
Read MoreMore on Mindfulness and DBT
I first covered DBT’s Mindfulness practice in a previous post. It’s such a critical component of Dialectical Behavior Therapy the topic deserves some more coverage. What is mindfulness? Mindfulness is the ability to notice your thoughts, feelings, sensations and impulses without judging yourself or trying to change anything. When you’re mindful, you can access…
Read MoreHow to control your actions when you’re upset
As a San Francisco DBT therapist, I work with plenty of people who struggle with controlling their actions when they’re upset. If you’ve tried to stop any kind of compulsive behavior, you know how hard it is to NOT do the thing you are trying not to do when you’re emotional. It’s hard to…
Read MoreWhat is a crisis in DBT?
What is a crisis in DBT? A crisis in DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) is defined as a temporary situation that is making you feel awful and in danger of acting in ways that you’ll later regret. You may be feeling sadness, anger or really overwhelmed with life in general. Whatever the feeling, it’s super painful.…
Read MoreWhy you act the worst with the person you love the most
Do you sometimes treat your partner in ways you would never dream of treating a friend, even a very close friend? Have you ever found yourself yelling, criticizing or giving your partner the silent treatment? Do you later regret how you’ve acted? Why is it that you can treat the person you love the most…
Read MoreWhat is DBT? Watch this video to find out
What is DBT and is it right for you? So, what is DBT? Have you heard about this type of therapy? Are you wondering if DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) is the right treatment for you? This video offers a great, brief explanation of what DBT looks like in action and how it differs from…
Read MoreAre you emotionally dysregulated?
In our San Francisco DBT therapy practice, we often see clients who wonder if DBT is right for them. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is effective for a range of problems, but works particularly well for people who struggle with emotional dysregulation. What is emotional dysregulation? Emotional dysregulation doesn’t just mean that you experience your…
Read MoreThe Biosocial Theory in DBT: Part 2 (Social)
As a San Francisco DBT therapist, I often see clients who feel like their emotions are out of control. These same clients tend to struggle with impulsive behaviors as well. If you relate to feeling very emotional and impulsive, the biosocial theory of emotional dysregulation in DBT provides a framework that can shed light on…
Read MoreThe Biosocial Theory in DBT: Part 1 (Biology)
If your emotions sometimes feel out of control and you struggle with impulsive behaviors, you may relate to DBT’s explanation of emotional sensitivity called the biosocial theory. What is the Biosocial Theory in DBT? The biosocial theory helps explain why some people struggle with controlling their emotions and actions by looking at both biology…
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