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Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in San Jose, CA

Learning Skills for When Emotions Feel Overwhelming

When emotions become intense, it can feel impossible to think clearly. You may react quickly, shut down, become overwhelmed, or later wish you had handled a situation differently.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) provides practical skills for managing intense emotions, navigating relationships, tolerating distress, and becoming more present.

At Pathwise Behavioral Health, I incorporate DBT strategies into individualized therapy for adults and teens in San Jose and throughout California via telehealth.

What Is DBT?

DBT was developed to help people who experience significant emotional distress and difficulty regulating intense emotions.

DBT combines acceptance and change. In other words, we work toward accepting where you are while also developing the skills needed to create meaningful change.

The Four Core Areas of DBT

Mindfulness

Learning to pay attention to what is happening in the present moment without immediately judging or reacting to it.

Distress Tolerance

Developing ways to survive difficult moments without making the situation worse.

Emotion Regulation

Learning to understand emotions, reduce vulnerability to emotional extremes, and respond more effectively.

Interpersonal Effectiveness

Learning how to communicate needs, establish boundaries, manage conflict, and maintain healthy relationships.

DBT May Be Helpful For:

  • Emotional dysregulation

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Relationship difficulties

  • Impulsivity

  • Self-destructive behaviors

  • Difficulty tolerating distress

  • Intense anger

  • Chronic feelings of emptiness

  • Difficulty setting boundaries

DBT skills can also be helpful for people who simply want practical tools for navigating difficult emotions and relationships.

A Practical Approach to Therapy

One of the strengths of DBT is its emphasis on skills you can use outside of the therapy room.

Rather than just understanding why you feel a certain way, we'll work on what you can actually do when difficult emotions show up.

Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to learn whether DBT-informed therapy is right for you.