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Wise Minds-DBT

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Wise Minds uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), an empirically-supported model of treatment that utilizes some of the skills from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and incorporates methodologies from various other practices, including Eastern mindfulness techniques. The overall goal of DBT is to help individuals learn to regulate their emotions in healthier ways. To accomplish this, they are taught how to effectively communicate their needs, express and manage distress, and think about situations in new ways.

Wise Minds Services

  • Individual Therapy
  • Family Therapy
  • Groups
  • Professional Development

Wise Minds FAQs

Who is a good candidate for your DBT Group?

DBT has been proven effective for a host of behaviors that may be the result of emotional dysregulation, including cutting and other forms of self- injurious behaviors, impulse control difficulties, disruptive behaviors, and eating disorders, to name a few.

What is the link between DBT and borderline personality disorder?

We often get clients who ask about the connection between DBT and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), as it is not uncommon for a research inquiry into DBT to result in information about BPD. DBT was originally created to work with clients who struggled with depressive symptoms, difficulty managing intense emotions, and suicidal behaviors. While it was initially developed to work with this population, research has demonstrated effectiveness across a wide range of presenting problems. You do not need to meet the criteria for BPD to benefit from DBT, and conversely, participating in a DBT group does not mean that you meet the criteria for BPD.

Are both parents required to attend groups with required parent components?

Participation in skills groups for parents is required for the Pre-Teen Coping and Adolescent DBT groups. While both parents are not required to attend group, we have found that if both parents play a role in care-giving, they have both expressed benefit from attending group. As parental involvement often provides a shared language, more consistent skills implementation, and a positive shift in overall family dynamics, we encourage both parents to participate, if possible. We have many parents who attend as a couple, or parents who alternate in attendance, if that is a better fit for the family schedule. We also have some divorced or separated parents attend group, if there are shared care-giving responsibilities. There is no additional cost for attendance by both parents.

Why is ongoing individual therapy required while participating in group?

Most of our DBT groups are skills based; as a result, group time is spent focusing on skill development rather than processing daily events or current concerns. Consequently, we ask that participants be in individual therapy in order to have a space in which they can gain support around daily concerns and review skills utilization as well. While we do require that clients be in ongoing individual therapy, it does not need to be weekly, nor does the individual therapist need to be a clinician at Southeast Psych.

When are your groups held?

  • The DBT Group for high school teens (14-18) meets at our Ballantyne office, in-person.

How do I sign up for a DBT group?

Please contact our DBT Coordinator, Emma Harvey eharvey@southeastpsych.com or the office at 704-552-0116, extension 7202.