Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Emotional regulation, relationship repair, and nervous system support—rooted in mindfulness and real-world skills.
What Is DBT?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a skills-based, structured approach to therapy that helps clients build emotional resilience, improve relationships, and reduce self-destructive or reactive behaviors. Originally developed for individuals with intense emotional sensitivity, DBT is now widely used for anyone seeking better tools for:
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Managing big emotions
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Navigating conflict
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Setting boundaries
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Building self-awareness
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Breaking patterns of dysregulation or emotional shutdown
At its core, DBT teaches you how to live in the “both/and” holding space for acceptance and change, emotion and logic, self-compassion and growth.
What This Looks Like in Practice
In DBT-informed sessions at Traveling Light Counseling, you might:
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Build a personalized emotional regulation toolkit
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Track your triggers and develop new response strategies
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Learn how to tolerate distress without making things worse
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Use validation, mindfulness, and behavior change tools in real-time
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Strengthen communication in sessions and at home
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Shift from cycles of rupture to patterns of repair
Is DBT Right for You?
You might benefit from DBT therapy if you:
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Struggle with “big emotions” or feel emotionally hijacked often
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Find yourself reacting in ways that damage relationships
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Shut down, numb out, or lash out under stress
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Feel like traditional therapy hasn’t given you enough concrete tools
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Want to build emotional skills and learn how to apply them in daily life
Individual DBT Therapy with Jaimie
Jaimie offers DBT-informed therapy tailored for children, teens, college students, and adults navigating challenges such as:
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Anxiety and depression
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Emotional sensitivity and reactivity
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Life transitions and developmental stress
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Neurodiversity and behavioral concerns
DBT is a structured, time-limited therapy designed to teach practical emotional and relational skills in a focused way. Clients often appreciate the clear format, goal-oriented nature, and emphasis on real-life application.
Jaimie’s work incorporates the four foundational DBT modules:
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Mindfulness – learning to stay present and aware without judgment
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Distress Tolerance – navigating crisis moments without making things worse
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Emotion Regulation – understanding and shifting emotional intensity
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Interpersonal Effectiveness – setting boundaries, expressing needs, and improving connection
Clients leave with more than insight—they leave with tools. Whether you’re struggling with mood swings, reactivity, or feeling emotionally overwhelmed, DBT offers a step-by-step pathway toward clarity and emotional strength.
Couples DBT Work
with Yvette
For couples caught in high-intensity cycles of miscommunication, reactivity, or shutdown, DBT offers a pathway toward repair and reconnection. Yvette integrates DBT principles into couples work using The High Conflict Couple by Dr. Alan Fruzzetti—a resource designed specifically for emotionally sensitive and highly reactive partnerships.
This approach is especially helpful for couples navigating:
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Recurring arguments that escalate quickly or don’t get resolved
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One or both partners feeling invalidated, unheard, or emotionally overwhelmed
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High-conflict dynamics in neurodiverse, trauma-informed, or emotionally complex relationships
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A desire to rebuild safety, trust, and communication skills that actually work in the moment
Together, you’ll learn how to:
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De-escalate conflict before it spirals
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Validate each other without abandoning your own needs
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Stay emotionally present, even during hard conversations
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Use structure and tools to create a foundation for lasting connection
Couples leave with more than insight—they leave with a shared language, clear repair tools, and a stronger foundation for partnership. Whether you’re trying to reconnect, rebuild, or simply reduce the daily emotional volatility, this process can help you turn tension into teamwork.
