Unlocking Emotional Balance: The Benefits of Joining a DBT Skills Group

By Devin Mathews, LPC

In today’s fast-paced world, managing our emotions and maintaining healthy relationships can often feel overwhelming. Many of us struggle with intense emotions, impulsive behaviors, or conflicts in our relationships, and it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. These challenges are common, and there are effective ways to navigate them.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a powerful, evidence-based approach designed to help individuals develop skills to manage their emotions, improve relationships, and lead more fulfilling lives. One of the core concepts of DBT is helping people find their ‘life worth living’, as many of us get to places where life feels overwhelming and unmanageable. Joining a DBT skills group can offer you practical tools to make meaningful changes in a structured manner and help you find emotional balance. This happens through learning skills through the 4 pillars of DBT including:

1. Mindfulness: One of the core components of DBT is mindfulness, which involves staying present and fully engaging in the moment. Mindfulness helps you gain awareness of your thoughts and feelings without judgment, leading to better decision-making and a greater sense of calm.
2. Distress Tolerance: Life is full of stressors, and sometimes it’s impossible to avoid difficult situations. DBT provides you with tools to tolerate distress and crises without making things worse. This skill is particularly helpful in navigating life’s inevitable ups and downs with resilience and grace.
3. Emotional Regulation: DBT teaches you how to understand and manage your emotions more effectively. Through various techniques, you’ll learn to identify triggers, cope with distressing feelings, and reduce emotional reactivity. This means fewer emotional roller coasters and more stability in your day-to-day life.
4. Interpersonal Effectiveness: Healthy relationships are crucial for our well-being, but they can be challenging to maintain. In a DBT skills group, you’ll practice communication strategies, boundary setting, and conflict resolution skills. This can lead to more satisfying and harmonious interactions with others.

Being part of a DBT skills group means connecting with others experiencing similar struggles. This sense of community can be incredibly validating and supportive, helping you feel understood and less isolated. While a DBT skills group is not a ‘support group’, it intrinsically fosters a sense of community, often having members share insights and encouragement, fostering a collaborative and empathetic environment.

It’s perfectly normal to face difficulties in managing emotions and relationships. Seeking help through a DBT skills group is a proactive step towards a healthier, more balanced life. Remember, change is possible, and you don’t have to go through it alone. Even if you have tried other groups or forms of therapy, DBT operates under the mindset that people don’t fail and often, even setbacks and upsetting events can hold opportunities for growth, acceptance, and change.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your journey towards emotional balance and healthier relationships, consider joining a DBT skills group. We’re here to support you every step of the way. Here at Counseling Associates for Well-Being, we have skilled therapists who are trained in DBT skills, and we have currently have some DBT groups that might be right for you. Contact us for more information about Current Groups

Devin Mathews, LPC has current DBT Groups meeting  virtually  and in person in our Tucker office. Contact Devin for more information at [email protected]