Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) offers practical, evidence-informed skills for navigating intense emotions, reducing reactivity, and responding to stress in ways that feel more grounded and intentional. DBT can be especially helpful when emotions feel unpredictable, overwhelming, or difficult to manage on your own.

In counselling, DBT strategies are adapted to your needs and integrated in a way that feels accessible — not rigid or overwhelming.

Sessions are available in person in Saanich and online across British Columbia.

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What DBT Supports

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DBT skills can be helpful if you experience:

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• Intense or rapidly shifting emotions
• Difficulty calming yourself during overwhelming moments
• Feeling “all-or-nothing” in reactions or thinking
• Challenges with boundaries or interpersonal conflict
• Impulsivity or shutting down under stress
• Chronic stress, anxiety, or emotional exhaustion
• A sense of being easily triggered or out of control

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These experiences are human, and DBT offers tools to navigate them with more clarity and ease.

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Core DBT Skill Areas

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DBT is built around four skill areas that support emotional steadiness:

 

Emotion Regulation
Understanding emotional patterns and responding to them with more balance and clarity.

 

Distress Tolerance
Building the ability to manage crisis moments or intense feelings without escalating them.

 

Mindfulness
Learning to be present, grounded, and aware of internal experiences without immediate reaction.

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Interpersonal Effectiveness
Communicating needs, setting boundaries, and maintaining relationships with greater confidence and clarity.

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We integrate these skills gradually, based on what feels most relevant to your life.

 

 

What DBT Looks Like in Counselling

 

In a DBT-informed session, we may explore:

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• Practical grounding or calming strategies
• Techniques for reducing emotional intensity
• Understanding triggers and patterns
• Identifying alternative responses during stressful moments
• Clarifying needs and boundaries in relationships
• Building confidence in regulating emotions over time

 

The focus is on offering tools that are realistic and usable in daily life.

 

 

Why DBT Helps

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Many people find that DBT:

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• Creates more emotional breathing room
• Reduces reactive patterns
• Improves communication and boundary-setting
• Increases tolerance for stress or discomfort
• Supports clearer thinking during difficult moments
• Builds confidence in managing emotions rather than feeling controlled by them

 

These skills become more natural with practice, and they can make daily challenges feel less overwhelming.

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A Practical, Compassionate Approach

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DBT is not about perfection or forcing change. It’s about building awareness and confidence, one skill at a time, in a way that respects your pace and capacity.

 

If you’d like to explore whether DBT-informed counselling may be supportive, you’re welcome to book a complimentary consultation or schedule a session.