DBT Therapy in Ottawa

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) can be incredibly helpful for individuals who are navigating intense emotions, relationship challenges, or feeling as though they are constantly in survival mode. The traditional DBT model places a strong emphasis on skills and structure. At Levity Counselling, we take a more flexible approach to DBT, teaching you valuable skills while placing a greater emphasis on your individual journey and healing.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

What is DBT?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) has long been recognized for its structured approach, designed to help people struggling with emotional regulation, interpersonal difficulties, and other challenges often tied to conditions like Borderline Personality Disorder (which can be seen as a confluence of several factors, rather than strictly a “personality disorder.”) Traditional DBT is very structured, focusing on skills training, mindfulness, and behavioral strategies.

Our Approach

Process-Based DBT

There’s an evolving approach to DBT that’s shifting the focus from rigid structure to the therapeutic relationship itself — and it’s called Process-Based DBT.

In Process-Based DBT, the therapeutic relationship becomes the cornerstone of the work, rather than adhering strictly to the traditional DBT modules. This approach doesn’t abandon the key skills of DBT, such as mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Instead, it integrates these elements into a more flexible, individualized therapeutic experience, where the process of healing is just as important as the skills being taught.

Process-Based vs Traditional DBT

The primary difference with Process-Based DBT lies in how the therapist and client work together. Instead of sticking rigidly to a pre-set curriculum, this approach emphasizes the natural flow of the therapeutic relationship.

The therapist works alongside the client in a way that feels more like a partnership. The connection between client and therapist becomes a place where healing can unfold, allowing clients to feel safe, heard, and understood. This strengthens the bond, making it easier for clients to explore their emotions and past experiences in a deeper way.

What to Expect

How Process-Based DBT Works

At the heart of Process-Based DBT is a focus on “the process” — how things are unfolding in the moment, in the session. This approach invites flexibility and responsiveness. For example, if a client brings something up during a session that’s particularly distressing or urgent, the therapist can shift gears to address those emotions in real-time, rather than sticking rigidly to a predefined plan. This doesn’t mean abandoning skills training, but rather creating space for emotional processing and deeper understanding of how a person’s behaviors and emotional patterns are influencing their lives.

Goals & Outcomes

Benefits of Process-Based DBT

One of the greatest benefits of this approach is that it allows clients to engage in therapy in a way that feels more personalized and relevant to their current life circumstances. Instead of worrying about mastering a specific set of skills, clients can focus on the here-and-now — building a genuine, trusting relationship with their therapist while also learning the coping strategies that will help them thrive. It’s not just about working through a checklist of skills, but about understanding oneself and relating to others in a way that fosters emotional well-being and growth.

If you’re interested in exploring this compassionate, relationship-centered approach to DBT, Angela (LINK to Angela’s profile page on our site) is here to support you. Reach out today to begin your journey toward healing.

We make getting started as smooth as possible

We understand reaching out takes effort. We try to make it as simple as possible. Send us an email, book a session using the link at the top of this page, review our Contact page – there is truly no wrong way to get in touch with us! And we aim to get back to you within 24-48 hours, because we know the wait can be a drag.

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Let us know how we can help you!