Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in St. Petersburg, FL
Live Purposefully with DBT Skills
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) was first developed by Marsha M. Linehan in the 1990's and built upon the foundation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Although she originally used to it to treat women who were symptomatic of Borderline Personality (BPD), she and others soon realized its power in treating patients of diverse clinical backgrounds, particularly those who respond to emotional states quickly and intensely and who struggle to bounce back from these states with speed or ease. DBT is exceptionally powerful at helping patients whose lives are often fraught with shifting emotional peaks and valleys by helping them learn research-based coping techniques and strategies.
DBT Therapy Focuses on the Following:
- Expanding and sustaining the patient’s motivation to work toward personal transformation.
- Providing regular opportunities and guidance in developing patient’s skills.
- Helping patients translate their new skills into diverse situations and circumstances.
- Continually developing the therapist’s own abilities and desire to effectively and willingly treat people.
- Providing a nonjudgmental and secure environment where healing and skills development can occur.
DBT’s Team Structure:
DBT skills are learned and strengthened through a strategic and integrated system of group therapy, phone contact, coaching, and the assignment and completion by the patient of at- home tasks. In tandem with the work done by patients, the DBT therapist is also regularly working and consulting with a team of peer and mentor clinicians. The therapy structure can also be designed to be include family members as a method of measuring progress occurring in the home environment.
Progressive Stages & Goal Setting:
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) utilizes a system of stages and target goals to ensure that it is treating more than just the patient’s present issues. DBT’s progressive system focuses first on primary risk factors: the most immediate and prevalent issues, such as injurious or harmful conditions. Once these issues have been addressed, the therapy moves to the next issue by order of relevancy, which are likely to be behavior patterns that negatively impact the client’s life and development of coping skills.
St. Petersburg DBT Therapist Teaching Skills That Can Change Your Life
Dr. Heather Lawson is a licensed clinical psychologist in St. Petersburg, FL who specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in St. Petersburg FL, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy. She has extensive experience helping people heal from the emotional and behavioral difficulties related to depression and anxiety, including relationship issues, family conflicts, problems in the work place, and the unique challenges faced by patients struggling with borderline personality disorder.
Though many clients seek out Dr. Lawson for behavioral therapies, her training and experiences are diverse. She tailors her approach to meet individual client’s needs, always focusing on overcoming problems and building upon each patient’s unique strengths. Her foremost commitment is to helping people build fulfilling and meaningful lives, using her own strength of kindness and warmth in supporting the reaching of patient goals.
Dr. Lawson’s clients often comment on her degree of dedication and the trust they have in her deep desire to help them achieve greater happiness and empowerment over their lives through the use of skill-based training. She leads both individual psychotherapy as well as DBT groups, and is available and responsive to new client inquiries. Her office is located in downtown St. Petersburg.
Click here or call 212-462-2035 to speak directly with Dr. Lawson today.