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Learning with DBT
by Nikki and Anne Heart ♥ February 20, 2025
*Although we wrote this post together, we have chosen to present the following through Mom’s eyes.
Are you planning on joining a therapy program such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy or DBT? Then this is a good place for you to start.
I have been participating in individual therapy programs for years. Seeking any help I can for my daughter and our family.
It was just recently, my daughter joined a DBT program which consists of both individual and group therapy. Because she is in the program, I was allowed to join the family zoom group meeting once a week.
By participating in this program, I have a newfound awareness of how everyone is different.
Not that I didn’t always recognize this, but I believed programs have started to recognize this as well. Unfortunately, some programs still teach techniques in the borders of a particular box.
Don’t get me wrong, I do believe in DBT and other techniques as helping bring wellness to an individual. What I don’t believe in is the lack of flexibility within a program.
The DBT program I participate in utilizes mindfulness techniques as it teaches you to observe, describe, and understand your emotions. One of the DBT beginning goals is to learn to regulate your emotions and accept reality.
Overall, the goal of DBT is to improve your mental health and well-being by teaching you the skills to do so.
Without a doubt, this can become a foundation for your well-being.
Some tips I believe that can help you find a program that’s right for you.
1. Find a program that fits your schedule.
The program we joined has very little flexibility regarding when you can attend. This isn’t a problem for me but is for my daughter. My daughter’s work schedule varies week to week. This causes additional anxiety to her. Especially, with the policy that if you can’t attend a meeting, you are required to pay for it anyway.
2. Recognize that not everything discussed has to fit you.
This is a big one. Not everyone has the same situation in the program. What brought you into the program most likely is different from another person in the program. Recognizing this from the beginning can be important. Controlling emotions is similar but triggers can be different. The key is to take away what you can relate to and what is best for you.
3. Program may not recognize reactiveness contributed to medication or chemical sensivities.
During my group session, I discussed my daughter’s reactiveness because of the medication she was taken due to the flu. Unfortunately, the group leader couldn’t acknowledge that the actual drug influenced her emotional state. To me, this is a big flaw in the program. Medication and chemical sensitivities should be considered, and techniques must be put into place for emotional reactiveness. Just to have the acknowledgement that it does exist, can help with a person’s well-being.
4. Insurance coverage can be a problem.
For many years my daughter wanted to take part in a DBT program. Due to the program’s policies and insurance coverage, she wasn’t eligible to enter the program. The program we have joined is very expensive and unfortunately doesn’t take insurance but does participate in out-of-network. Meaning they give you a bill for you to submit to your insurance company. After two months, the insurance company has yet to reimburse anything. Needless to say, affordability can be a major deterrent in participating in the program.
Seeking help for your wellness is a first start to obtain the lifestyle you want. Don’t let the glitches in the road stop you.
And yes, there will be glitches.
The important thing is not to give up. Learning to navigate through the pros and cons of each treatment program can be challenging.
This is why we share our journeys with you. Because through our journeys and our mistakes, you can learn and become more aware.
Thanks for joining us.
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” Education is not learning the facts, but the training the mind to think.”
-Albert Einstein-
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Note: all information in “Nikki’s Story” are based on detail journals covering seven years of Nikki’s life on prescription drugs.
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