Neurodiversity Affirming Model of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
I understand the unique needs of neurodivergent individuals with Autism and ADHD, and am here to provide a supportive and affirming therapeutic approach that fosters growth, self-awareness, and emotional regulation.
Core Components of Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Mindfulness: Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment without judgment. It involves paying attention to thoughts, feelings, and sensations without trying to change or control them.
Distress Tolerance: Distress tolerance skills help individuals cope with intense emotions and crises without resorting to harmful behaviors. These skills teach individuals how to tolerate distressing situations without making them worse.
Emotion Regulation: Emotion regulation skills help individuals identify, understand, and manage their emotions effectively. This includes learning to recognize triggers, reduce emotional vulnerability, and respond adaptively to challenging situations.
Interpersonal Effectiveness: Interpersonal effectiveness skills focus on improving communication, setting boundaries, and building healthy relationships. These skills help individuals navigate social interactions and assert their needs while maintaining self-respect and respect for others.
How DBT Helps Individuals with Autism and ADHD
Enhanced Emotional Regulation: Many individuals with Autism and ADHD struggle with emotional regulation, experiencing intense emotions that can be overwhelming. DBT provides practical strategies and tools to identify, understand, and regulate emotions effectively. Through mindfulness practices and emotion regulation skills, individuals learn to manage emotional intensity and respond to stressors in healthier ways.
Improved Social Navigation Needs: Social difficulties are common among individuals with Autism and ADHD, making it challenging to navigate interpersonal relationships and social interactions. DBT's interpersonal effectiveness skills offer practical techniques for improving communication, building rapport, and resolving conflicts constructively. These skills help Autistics and ADHDers develop stronger social connections and foster meaningful relationships that are healthy.
Increased Self-Awareness: Many individuals with autism and ADHD struggle with self-awareness, making it difficult to understand their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. DBT promotes self-awareness through mindfulness practices, encouraging individuals to observe their inner experiences without judgment. By cultivating greater self-awareness, individuals can identify unhelpful patterns and make more informed choices in their lives.
Effective Coping Strategies: Individuals with Autism and ADHD often face unique challenges and stressors that can contribute to emotional dysregulation and behavioral difficulties. DBT equips neurodivergent individuals with practical coping strategies and distress tolerance skills to manage crises and navigate difficult situations more effectively. These skills empower individuals to cope with stressors in healthy and adaptive ways, reducing the risk of maladaptive behaviors.
Validation and Acceptance: One of the core principles of DBT is validation, which involves acknowledging and accepting individuals' thoughts, feelings, and experiences without judgment. For neurodivergent individuals, who may have faced stigma and misunderstanding, validation can be incredibly empowering. DBT provides a safe and supportive environment where individuals feel heard, understood, and accepted, fostering a sense of belonging and self-worth.
I provide a neurodiversity affirming approach to support neurodivergent children, teens, and adults. By integrating mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness skills, DBT provides practical tools and strategies to promote emotional well-being, address social navigation needs, enhance self-awareness, and cope with stressors effectively.
Schedule an appointment below if If you or a loved one could benefit from DBT.
