Discover how starting dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) therapy can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.
2 therapists available in Norfolk
As a woman of color, I entered this field not only to help people but to bridge a gap in mental health awareness and understanding...
About
As a woman of color, I entered this field not only to help people but to bridge a gap in mental health awareness and understanding within my community.
Brianna Lewis is a Resident in Counselling with 3 years of experience in the mental health field. She specializes in helping individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, marital and relationship problems, day-to-day stressors, and LGBTQ+-focused issues. As a lover of learning, Brianna enjoys having a diverse caseload where she can serve clients with different backgrounds. As a woman of color, Brianna is familiar with the need for a comfortable, safe place to be open and feel heard. She takes a person-centered approach to treatment and supports those she works with by focusing on their unique needs.
Brianna has her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Wake Forest University. She tailors care to each client and often uses psychodynamic therapy, narrative therapy, integrative therapy, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness-based techniques.
Brianna has experienced firsthand the challenges of not feeling seen or heard. She is eager to help others thrive regardless of race, sexual orientation, or background and looks forward to working with you!
Education and training
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Sue McCray is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has more than 6 years of experience working with survivors of trauma due to do...
Sue McCray is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has more than 6 years of experience working with survivors of trauma due to domestic and sexual violence, anxiety, depression, and more. She's also provided relief for individuals enduring grief and loss, and supported individuals on their journey towards building a new life of sobriety in an inpatient residential treatment facility. Throughout her career, she has provided both individual and group therapy, as well.
Sue received her Master's degree in Social Work from Boston University and tailors her interventions to meet the needs of her clients. She uses a blend of multiple treatment modalities including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), solutions-focused therapy (SFT), and mindfulness-based therapy to successfully alleviate symptoms and to help her clients live a balanced fulfilling life. She believes that change happens when people are given the guidance they need to draw on their own strengths and realize their potential to live fulfilling, happy lives.
Sue provides an environment of compassion acceptance, warmth, and respect that allows her clients to gain insight, self-efficacy, and empowerment while working toward an ultimate goal of growth and healing. Sometimes life can be overwhelming and stressful and sharing these burdens can help relieve some of that distress. As you walk together with her on your journey toward healing, she'll be your guide as you face challenges and struggles along the way.
You deserve dedicated time with a mental health professional — it can be life-changing.
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My go-to approach for helping people utilize DBT techniques is to follow the DBT manual and focus on coping in all four areas. I start with mindfulness, then focus on emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and lastly interpersonal effectiveness. I utilize tools from this modality for patients who are struggling with impulsivity, emotional regulation, and unhelpful action and behavior patterns.
I teach emotional regulation, distress tolerance techniques, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness.
I know a client is making meaningful progress in DBT when clients are engaged and interacting in therapy, utilize the coping skills learned weekly, and discuss and explore how skills learned in DBT have created a higher level of functioning. Clients may also express increased positive mood shifts through client self-reports, assessments, and clinician observations.
Each week, clients will have specific activities and assignments to complete between sessions to practice skills learned and evaluate how effective the skills have been between sessions.
To prepare for the first DBT session, an individual can make a list of things they would like to work on in therapy. It is also helpful to write down any questions you may have in regard to therapy and DBT in general.
At Thriveworks, Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) primarily concentrates on assisting individuals in emotion regulation, enhancing interpersonal relationships, and acquiring effective coping strategies for managing stress and emotional difficulties.
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) targets your personal challenges. You may work with your DBT therapist to maintain diary cards to monitor progress, emphasizing validation and support in the therapeutic relationship. DBT follows a stage-based approach, prioritizing crisis reduction initially and life satisfaction.
DBT was initially developed to address the needs of individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD). However, its versatile approach has enabled its application to a wide range of mental health conditions, including but not limited to, anxiety, depression, stress, and anger issues.
The 4 pillars of DBT are mindfulness, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance.
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) have distinct purposes and aren’t inherently superior or inferior to one another. DBT is most effective for managing emotional regulation, personality disorders, and interpersonal challenges, while EMDR is specifically tailored for individuals with trauma-related conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) with therapists at Thriveworks in Norfolk, VA is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.
The duration of a standard DBT program is typically around 24 weeks, which is roughly six months. The actual number of sessions will vary depending on the issues you wish to address.
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
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