Christina Unruh, LCSW is truly passionate about Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and has devoted her personal and professional life to a dialectical worldview. Dialectics teaches that life can be difficult and often painful. AND yet, by validating and holding space for diverse, and sometimes conflicting perspectives on our circumstances, new possibilities for happiness and contentment emerge. Christina’s expertise has helped many people increase their capacity for change and approach rather than avoid extremely difficult situations. Her therapy is based on intensive DBT training and behavioral analysis as well as personal use of her DBT skills every day, moment by moment.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) was developed by Marsha Linehan for individuals with persistent problems with thoughts and emotions. DBT is a therapy that EVERYONE can benefit from because it teaches skills that can be used in every area of life. However, full model, completely adherent DBT, as it was designed, is especially helpful for people who consider themselves to be EMOTIONAL and out of place with less emotional people. DBT can be especially helpful if you have:
• High emotional sensitivity and reactivity
• Difficulty returning to a normal mood after an intense emotion
• Chronic problems with depression, anxiety and anger
• Thoughts of suicide or past attempts
• Self-injury such as cutting or burning, getting high or drunk
• Intense or unstable relationships
• Impulsive behaviors such as promiscuity or gambling• Extreme (black or white) thinking
• Difficulty with problem-solving and making decisions
• Avoiding emotions until you explode
• Disassociation
Years of solid research has shown DBT to be the most effective therapy for individuals who struggle with being overwhelmed by strong emotions. The inability to manage or regulate emotions shows up in a variety of behaviors:
- A pattern of being uncomfortable with emotions or unable to return to normal mood or normal activities following an intense emotional experience
- A tendency to be disappointed in others or feeling misunderstood by others
- Denying emotions or the importance of having them
- A pattern of moving from one negative life event to the next with no break
- A tendency to refuse to feel sadness, grief, anger, guilt, shame
- A tendency of wanting to give up or get out of life due to feeling hopeless and/or helpless
- A pattern o f acting like you are doing much better than you really are
If you have questions about whether DBT is right for you, please contact Christina Unruh, MSW, LCSW for a phone consultation.