Dialectical behavior therapy, known as DBT, helps people learn new skills to manage painful emotions, decrease conflict in relationships and make life in general more manageable.

DBT specifically focuses on improving important life skills in four key areas:

1. Emotion regulation skills: Learning to reduce overwhelm by controlling the nervous system functions that lead to strong emotional reactions.

2. Mindfulness skills: Paying attention to the experience of the present moment and regulating attention.

3. Interpersonal effectiveness skills: How to successfully navigate interpersonal situations.

4. Distress tolerance skills: Surviving emotional crises without making situations worse.

For people who like having practical tools to use outside of therapy sessions, I often incorporate learning DBT skills in therapy.

These skills can be applied to any area of your life to help you feel more successful in relationships, at work, and in reaching the goals that are important to you.