Virtual Group Therapy

I believe that a lot of ways that people learn to regulate their emotions is through learning the skills that teach us what to do with our emotions.  I teach a 12 week skills class where the group learns skills that lead to healthier thoughts and behaviors.  These skills are Dialectical Behavioral Skills, known as DBT.  DBT teaches patients to cope with unhealthy thoughts and behaviors. Learning these skills result in positive changes in daily life with improved relationships, emotion regulation, mindfulness, decision-making and self regulation.

​

There are four components (which are known as modules) to DBT; , Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotional Regulation and Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills.  Each session focuses on skills of the module, and are incorporated into everyday life.

​

Mindfulness teaches us to be present in the moment and to not focus on the past, which cannot be changed and to not focus on the future which cannot be predicted.  The excessive thinking of both the past and the future, does not allow us to be present in the moment, and causes both symptoms of anxiety and depression.

 

The Distress Tolerance module teaches the patient to self soothe to increase tolerance to negative emotions, instead of trying to run away from negative emotions or cause patients to self soothe with harmful substances or harmful behavior 

 

The 3rd module of DBT emotional regulation.  I aim to give patients the skills and strategies for recognizing their emotions, tolerating their distressing emotions, and learning how to change and manage those emotions. 

 

The last module of DBT is Interpersonal Effective skills. When we cannot communicate effectively with others, it leads to us not being heard or communicating in a way that is not appropriate.  In DBT, a patient will learn how to communicate with others in a way that is assertive yet effective. DBT will teach the patient techniques for strengthening their bonds with others, and how to maintain their self-respect and personal boundaries in relationships.

​

In addition to running DBT trainings I have presented seminars to college students titled “How to argue with your roommate, and everyone else: a guide to interpersonal effectiveness skills”  “How does social media affect us IRL?; and ‘Don’t ask me to calm down, teach me to calm down”