Mile High Psychiatry Now Offers Group Dialectical Behavior Therapy

At Mile High Psychiatry, we are dedicated to providing the most innovative ways to help our patients improve their lives. By seeking out the most advanced therapies, we can give our patients the cognitive tools they need to overcome their mental health conditions. Beginning June 21, Mile High Psychiatry will officially begin offering Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help patients develop healthy ways to cope with stress. 

What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?

DBT is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy, a treatment designed to help patients identify and change negative thinking patterns and push for positive behavioral modifications. This type of therapy may be used to treat suicidal thoughts and self-destructive behaviors. It’s also a great way to get patients out of negative thought loops associated with depression and anxiety. 

Unlike traditional forms of cognitive behavioral therapy, DBT combines two opposites in therapy – acceptance and change. The basis of this therapy is that these two combined ideas are better at showing results than either one alone.

DBT allows patients to focus on acceptance of their situation while balancing the work that needs to be done to actively change negative thoughts and behaviors. 

Benefits of Dialectical Behavior Therapy

At Mile High Psychiatry, we administer DBT in group teletherapy sessions. These telepsychiatry calls allow our providers to understand each patients’ learned behaviors so they can develop a DBT plan specific to them. Benefits of DBT include:

Practice Mindfulness

One of the most essential aspects of DBT is the development of mindfulness. Mindfulness helps patients focus on the present moment, helping them to be here now, without worrying about the future. Mindfulness helps patients focus on what is happening moment to moment with their thoughts, feelings, sensations and impulses.

By tuning into this specific moment, patients can slow down and focus on their feelings without passing judgment on the thought or on themselves. Mindfulness is a healthy coping skill that can help anyone stay calm and avoid engaging in automatic negative thought loops and impulses. 

Improve Distress Tolerance

When bad things happen or stressful situations occur, it’s easy to get caught up in anger and frustration. DBT allows patients to accept the current situation as it is, without judgment and without ruining their inner peace. Patients will learn techniques for handling internal crises, including distraction, improving the moment, and self-soothing.

Gain Interpersonal Skills

Interpersonal skills help us as individuals handle social situations with grace. In DBT therapy, patients will learn to become more assertive in their relationships, ensuring that their needs are met while keeping the relationship positive. Patients will learn to communicate effectively in both new and established relationships. 

Regulate Emotions 

When you get stuck in a negative thought loop, you are demonstrating that you have little control over your emotion regulation. DBT teaches patients how to navigate away from powerful emotions and focus on more positive thoughts and feelings. We focus on cognitive tools that will allow you to identify, name and change your emotions as quickly as the negative emotions began. 

Getting Started With Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

If you or your child are interested in receiving DBT, schedule an appointment with Mile High Psychiatry today. DBT may be an effective treatment for:

• ADHD
• Bipolar disorder
• Eating disorders
• Anxiety disorders
• Depression
• OCD
• PTSD

For more information, please email therapy@milehighpsychiatry.com.