LifeWork, LLC

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a comprehensive cognitive-behavioral treatment for complex, difficult-to-treat emotional difficulties. Originally developed to treat chronically suicidal individuals, DBT has evolved into a treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder. DBT has since been adapted for other seemingly intractable behavioral disorders involving emotional deregulation; including substance dependence, and binge eating. DBT has been effective with adolescents and adults, and in a variety of clinical settings.

DBT combines the basic strategies of behavior therapy with mindfulness practices in a framework of dialectics, or, residing within an overarching dialectical world view that emphasizes the synthesis of opposites. The fundamental dialectic in DBT is between validation and acceptance of the client as they are, within the context of simultaneously helping them change. The skills that are taught include mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness.  There are 4 components to comprehensive DBT.

Individual Therapy

Individual DBT sessions are held once a week.  These sessions focus on implementing DBT skills in particular life circumstances. In individual DBT, the client and therapist will identify target behaviors (such as self-harm) and specific goals. DBT uses homework and between session phone contact, when needed, to supplement the work in therapy sessions.

Skills Training Group

DBT skills group teaches the skills needed to manage strong emotions.  The group is much like a class with members doing homework each week in order to reinforce skills learned.  Time is given for practice to help the skills become transferable to real life. While group members are encouraged to participate in 2 full cycles of the group (1 year), commitment to one cycle at a time can be negotiated.  All clients in the DBT Skills Group must also be in individual DBT therapy.  The skills are:

Core Mindfulness: The "core" DBT skill. Mindfulness is about cultivating awareness of thoughts, emotions, and present-moment experiences. Because mindfulness is so central to DBT, it is not only a module of the group, but we also do a mindfulness practice to start every group.

Emotion Regulation: understanding what emotions are, how they work, and ways to de-escalate or change them.

Interpersonal Effectiveness: ways to get your needs met without damaging relationships or feeling overwhelmed.

Distress Tolerance: ways to tolerate distressing emotions when you can't de-escalate or change them.


Coaching Calls

Coaching calls are used to enhance the therapy throughout the week. Calls are brief in duration and reference DBT Skills or issues in therapy.

DBT Consultation Team

All therapists providing DBT must participate in a weekly consultation group.  The group begins with an experiential mindfulness experience, then we discuss DBT concepts and apply them to our clinical work.   Therapists practice the skills taught and receive support from each other to provide effective therapy.

Current Price List

Individual therapy session              $90 licensed provider
                                                    $75 masters level
 
DBT Skills Group                            $60

2 Day ASIST Workshop                    $275 (per participant)
Licensure Supervision                    $60 for individual
                                                    $40 for group, as   available
 

LifeWork, LLC does not accept insurance.  However, we can help you access your out-of-network benefits through your insurance carrier to cover the service. 

LifeWork, LLC 12400 Olive Blvd Ste 205

St. Louis,  MO 63141

314-910-8608   contact@lifeworkstl.com

DBT Success Story
 
 (name altered to protect confidentiality)

Claire was one week into her DBT sessions when she overdosed and ended up on the Intensive Care Unit.  She felt hopeless. Worthless.  Empty.  And it wasn't the first time she had felt this way.  That was a year and a half ago.

She couldn't believe it when her therapist took her back.  It took a lot of work to build a trusting relationship.  In the past year Claire only self harmed a few times compared to weekly bouts of it for the majority of her lifetime.

Claire can now identify what it is she wants to live for.  Family and work have new meaning.  Her time in DBT is not yet over, but it's created a new perspective on her life.  Working together, Claire and her therapist have helped her to create a life worth living.

 

Contact LifeWork now!  314-910-8608 or contact@lifeworkstl.com