Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills in Boynton Beach, Fort Lauderdale & Boca Raton, Florida
DBT helps patients understand that they are not alone in their concerns and struggles.
At MorMindful Therapy & Psychiatry, we perform Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) sessions with patients throughout South Florida.
Learn More About Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a specific form of therapy that teaches skills which have been clinically proven to help people better handle overwhelming emotions, recurring thoughts/worries, and difficulties maintaining boundaries in their relationships. Created by Marsha Linehan, PhD, DBT makes life easier by teaching skills that help people avoid making the difficult situations that arise in life worse through our actions and emotions. In essence, DBT works on the “pressure in the valve”, the underlying causes that result in unhealthy behaviors.
DBT is divided into 4 sections (modules). The first module is mindfulness, which is the cornerstone of DBT. Skills taught in this module help us understand and learn not to place judgments on our thoughts and feelings, as well as stay in the moment. The concept of wise mind decision making is also taught in the mindfulness module. The skill of wise-mind helps patients avoid making quick decisions based on emotion.
The second module is emotional regulation. In this module, DBT patients are taught skills designed to help them feel in control and better understand their emotions, as well as understand the role of self care in their emotional wellbeing. These skills help our clients contain their emotions before they reach their “point of no return”, and resort to unhealthy behaviors.
In the third module, interpersonal effectiveness, relationships are examined. Patients are taught specific ways to create and maintain boundaries, including asking for what they want in a healthy way and being assertive when turning down a request that might be unreasonable or unhealthy.
In the fourth and final module, distress tolerance, patients are taught radical acceptance, perhaps the most important DBT skill. Until a person can accept their current circumstances, emotions, and limitations, change is impossible. Also in distress tolerance, group members learn how to plan for unexpected events that occur in life so they aren’t overwhelmed and don’t make matters worse.
DBT sessions are run according to the research based protocols, very specific guidelines created by Dr Linehan and proven to be effective in research studies. Sessions are run in 2 hour blocks, once a week. The sessions are 10 weeks in duration, and each patient receives a one of a kind book created out of Dr Linehan’s materials. Every week, patients will be given a specific assignment to help reinforce the skills taught that week.
Dr. Katrina Verdon, Psy. D.
Dr. Katrina Verdon, Psy. D. is a clinical psychologist with over 16 years of experience helping people. Dr. Verdon is from the Northeast and received her undergraduate degree from Temple University. After relocating to south Florida in 2006 she received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Verdon utilizes Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) with her patients at MorMindful.
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Dr. Verdon takes a strength-based approach specializing in addiction, anxiety, relationships, and life transitions. Dr. Verdon has worked in various inpatient treatment programs for mental health and dependency. Dr. Verdon is well versed in cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness techniques and psychological evaluations including IQ testing.
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Dr. Verdon knows how hard it can be to ask for help! Her goal is to help people regain hope, improve mental health and gain new skills so that you can live the life you want to live.
