This therapeutic modality is intended for individuals that experience overwhelming emotions, attachment difficulties, suicidal thoughts, and self-harm.

Four Main Components

Mindfulness

  • Paying attention to what is occurring in the present moment

Distress Tolerance

  • The ability to accept and bear painful situations, thoughts, and/or feelings that cannot be changed. It helps you to respond wisely to distress rather than compulsively.

Emotional Regulation

  • You are learning ways to name better and express feelings and how to respond to feelings with self-soothing or appropriate action. You will have the opportunity to learn self-care methods and practices to create balance. 

Interpersonal Effectiveness

  • You are being able to live harmoniously with others, being able to express emotions, ability to ask for what you need, ability to say no, and learn to set boundaries.

Benefits:

DBT skills help decrease the risk of suicidal and self-harming behaviours, decrease interfering behaviours with both therapy and quality of life, and help you learn to master behaviour skills for mood-independent life choices.

Challenges:

Dealing and coping with feelings to navigate a solution can be challenging; this is a process, and it takes time through the consistent implementation of skills.

Goals:

Helping individuals navigate away from destructive behaviours by providing techniques to help reduce negative emotions and form better relationships.

The Four-Stage Approach

Stage 1: Focus is Stabilization

You may be dealing with suicidal thoughts/self-harm or addiction-related issues. The Social Worker/Psychotherapist will centre the session on safety and crisis intervention. The goal is to help you achieve control over the problematic behaviour. 

Stage 2: Stability

Your behaviour is more stable. Though, your mental health issues may still be present. The Social Worker/Psychotherapist will try to safely bring emotional pain to the surface to explore traumatic experiences. The goal of this stage is for you to experience your emotional pain rather than suppress it.

Stage 3: Enhancing Quality of Life

The focus of this stage is on enhancing your quality of life through the maintenance of progress with appropriate goal setting. The goal of this stage is to promote happiness as well as stability.

Stage 4: Advancing Your Life

The Social Worker/Psychotherapist will help you support your life’s advancement. This stage enables you to improve the newly learned skills and helps you work toward spiritual fulfillment. The goal is to continue the purposes outlined In stage three by progressing with happiness and stability.

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Learn more about Mindful Path Counselling, and our experienced staff to find the social worker or psychotherapist that best fits your needs on your journey to well-being.