Women’s History Month: Enhancing Women’s Wellness and Mental Health
March 26, 2024
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide rates have been steadily increasing in Nevada over the past decade, with suicide ranking as the ninth leading cause of death in our state. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a form of therapy that is becoming increasingly popular in Reno and other parts of the country. It was originally developed to treat individuals with borderline personality disorder, but is now used to treat a variety of mental health concerns, including suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
DBT is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that focuses on two core components: validation and change. The validation component focuses on accepting and acknowledging an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors without judgment. The change component focuses on identifying and changing negative or self-destructive behaviors.
DBT consists of four main modules: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Each module is designed to help individuals manage their emotions and behaviors in a healthy way, and to develop strong, positive relationships with others.
At the core of all DBT modules lies mindfulness, which focuses on being present in the moment and cultivating awareness. By practicing mindfulness, individuals learn to observe their thoughts, emotions, and sensations without judgment or attachment. In the context of DBT, mindfulness exercises enable individuals to better cope with distressing emotions, reduce impulsive reactions, and increase self-acceptance.
Benefits of Mindfulness in DBT:
Distress Tolerance focuses on building resilience and effective coping strategies when faced with intense discomfort or distress. This module equips individuals with techniques to tolerate distressful situations without resorting to self-destructive behaviors. Distress tolerance skills include self-soothing, distraction, and grounding exercises, which help individuals manage overwhelming emotions and prevent impulsive reactions.
Benefits of Distress Tolerance in DBT:
Emotion Regulation is dedicated to helping individuals identify, understand, and manage their emotions in a healthy and constructive manner. DBT provides techniques for individuals to regulate intense emotions, such as anger, sadness, or anxiety. Emotion regulation focuses on developing skills to increase positive emotions and decrease negative emotional experiences while avoiding emotional avoidance or suppression. By learning how to manage emotions, individuals can lower their risk of suicide and reduce the severity and frequency of their suicidal thoughts.
Benefits of Emotion Regulation in DBT:
Suicide often happens when individuals feel isolated or disconnected from others. DBT works to improve interpersonal relationships by teaching individuals how to communicate effectively, resolve conflicts in a healthy way, and establish healthy boundaries. Interpersonal effectiveness provides individuals with skills to express their needs, negotiate conflicts, and maintain interpersonal connections. It emphasizes effective listening, validation, and problem-solving to help individuals cultivate and maintain healthy and fulfilling relationships.
Benefits of Interpersonal Effectiveness in DBT:
Therapy from a professional therapist can make a profound difference in relieving suicidal thoughts. Being aware of the warning signs could reduce both suicide attempts and deaths. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, don’t feel like you need to tackle this on your own. Please seek immediate help by calling 911, a local emergency phone number or crisis hotline, or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800-273-8255).
If the situation isn’t imminent, your doctor can provide a referral to professional suicidal therapy or counseling for suicidal thoughts. Don’t be afraid to ask for support from loved ones and close friends before, during, and after receiving suicidal therapy. Telling a therapist about suicidal thoughts may not be easy, but it is a vital first step in healing.
Healing Minds has added a second location in Reno, which will operate solely as a center for dialectical behavioral therapy. The new Healing Minds is located on Reno Corporate Drive across from the new Sierra Medical Center.
We employ a dedicated team of counselors and therapists in Reno, NV, who share a deep commitment for helping individuals and families rebuild and improve their lives. Our team offers a range of services to treat mental health issues, including individual therapy, group therapy, DBT, family counseling, and Telehealth therapy.
At Healing Minds, we have therapists that can help you deal with mental health issues and suicidal thoughts. Our Suicidal Prevention services can make the difference you need to step towards a full, whole life once again. Your life is special, it is worth living, and we are here to help you remember this; to listen and give you the tools to rewrite your story. Suicide is preventable. Please reach out to schedule a therapy appointment with a trained practitioner. We offer in person or Telehealth therapy from the comfort of your own home.
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