What Is DBT
How Can It Help You Feel More in Control
If you have ever felt overwhelmed by your emotions, stuck in patterns you cannot seem to break, or unsure how to cope when life gets intense, you are not alone. Many people come to counselling because their emotions feel too much, too fast, or too unpredictable.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, often called DBT, is a research-backed counselling approach that helps people build emotional strength, improve relationships, and respond to stress in healthier, more grounded ways. At Orchard Valley Counselling in Kelowna, we use DBT skills to support clients who want practical tools they can use right away in their daily lives.
What Is DBT
DBT stands for Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. It was originally developed to help people manage intense emotions, but today it is used to support anyone who wants more stability, confidence, and emotional resilience.
blends two important ideas
- Acceptance. Understanding where you are emotionally without shame or self-judgment.
- Change. Learning specific skills that help you cope in healthier ways.
This balance helps you feel validated while still moving toward growth.
Who DBT Helps
helpful for many concerns, including
• emotional overwhelm
• anxiety and chronic stress
• relationship conflict
• difficulty managing anger
• people-pleasing or boundary challenges
• impulsive choices or coping habits that are not working
• borderline personality traits
• depression or low motivation
• burnout
• patterns of self-sabotage
You do not need a diagnosis to benefit from DBT. If emotions sometimes feel like they are running the show, DBT can help you take back the steering wheel.
The Four Core DBT Skill Areas
Mindfulness
DBT mindfulness is practical and grounded. It teaches you how to stay present, calm your body, and notice your thoughts without getting swept away by them.
This reduces rumination, spiraling, and emotional reactivity.
Distress Tolerance
These skills help you survive emotional storms without making things worse. You learn how to soothe your body, ground yourself, and get through tough moments with more stability and less panic.
Emotion Regulation
Emotion regulation skills help you understand your emotions, reduce emotional intensity, and build long-term emotional balance. You learn how to prevent overwhelm instead of constantly trying to recover from it.
Interpersonal Effectiveness
These skills help you communicate clearly, set boundaries, ask for what you need, and protect relationships that matter. They are especially helpful for people who struggle with conflict, fear of rejection, or people-pleasing.
What DBT Looks Like in Counselling
At Orchard Valley Counselling is tailored to each person. It is not a rigid program. Instead, your counsellor introduces the skills that match your goals and your emotional experiences.
A DBT-informed session might include
• understanding your emotional triggers
• learning new grounding or coping tools
• practicing communication skills
• exploring the deeper patterns behind your reactions
• integrating mindfulness into daily life
• building a plan for handling stress more effectively
Clients often say that DBT gives them the clarity and tools they wish they had years ago.
Why People Love DBT
DBT is practical. You can use the skills right away, even after the first session.
It is validating. It helps you understand your emotions instead of fighting them.
It is empowering. You learn how to calm your body, communicate confidently, and respond instead of react.
Most importantly, DBT helps you build a life that feels more stable, grounded, and aligned with who you want to be.
DBT Counselling in Kelowna
If you are curious about DBT or feel like your emotions have been draining your energy, affecting your relationships, or making life harder than it needs to be, we can help. Our counsellors at Orchard Valley Counselling use DBT-informed approaches to support emotional balance, resilience, and healthier coping.
You can start with a free consultation to ask questions and see if DBT feels right for you.
In person in Kelowna and West Kelowna
Secure online therapy across BC
Book your free consultation today and take the first step toward feeling more in control of your emotions and your life.