DBT of South Jersey

Goals of stage one are to obtain behavioral control. For clients experiencing life-threatening symptoms such as suicidal thinking, suicidal behavior and self harm, these behaviors are addressed first as they are priority in the hierarchy of symptoms. The second target of stage one treatment is to decrease any behaviors that interfere with therapy working. The third target is behaviors that interfere severely with one’s quality of life. In DBT, behaviors that interfere with making life feel as if it’s worth living, such as substance abuse, depression, anxiety, avoidance, eating disordered symptoms, problems in relationships, impulsivity, financial stressors, employment problems, etc.  The fourth target of stage one is to increase skills that help with tolerating emotional pain and distress, staying in the present moment, making and keeping healthy relationships and understanding their emotions while knowing how to regulate them.