DBT & Therapeutic Approaches

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy is an evidence-based approach that helps you build practical skills for managing intense emotions, tolerating distress, navigating relationships more effectively, and staying grounded through mindfulness. Originally developed for people experiencing chronic emotional pain, DBT has proven effective for a wide range of challenges including anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, problems in relationships and trauma responses.

Rather than following a rigid protocol, Julia integrates DBT skills flexibly into sessions. Whether working individually, as a couple, or as a family, Julia teaches and practices skills with you so you can then have effective tools to use outside the therapy room. You will learn to notice emotional triggers before they escalate, communicate your needs more effectively, and sit with discomfort rather than reacting impulsively.

DBT is not about eliminating difficult emotions. It is about building a life where you can hold as well as express those emotions and still move toward what matters to you.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying unhelpful thought patterns and learning to reframe them. When you are caught in cycles of negative thinking, CBT provides structured techniques for examining those thoughts, testing whether they are accurate, and developing more balanced perspectives. This approach is particularly effective for anxiety and depression, where worry and rumination can feel inescapable.

Julia uses CBT techniques to help you recognize the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors so you can interrupt patterns that keep you stuck. This is practical, collaborative work that gives you skills to use between sessions and long after therapy ends. CBT is also a core part of my approach to trauma recovery.

Family Systems Therapy

Family Systems Therapy views challenges through the lens of relationships and family dynamics rather than focusing on one individual in isolation. Patterns that developed in your family of origin often shape how you relate to partners, children, and colleagues today. Understanding those patterns is the first step toward changing them.

Julia works with couples and families to improve communication, resolve conflict and build stronger connections. Whether a family is navigating a major transition, supporting a teen through a difficult period, or learning to relate to each other in new ways, this approach helps everyone feel heard and understood.

Mindfulness-Based Approaches

Mindfulness-based approaches teach present-moment awareness and non-judgmental observation of your thoughts and feelings. Instead of getting swept up in worry about the future or regret about the past, mindfulness helps you stay grounded in what is actually happening right now. These techniques are woven throughout my work and complement every other modality I use.

Mindfulness skills are particularly helpful for managing anxiety, building emotional resilience, and supporting families facing serious illness who need tools for staying present during an uncertain time.