Using Somatic Therapy to Support DBT in the Therapy Room
DBT offers powerful, life-changing skills — mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness — but for many clients, there’s a catch:
“I know the skill… but I can’t use it when I need it most.”
As a therapist, I’ve heard this again and again. And I believe them. Not because the skill isn’t effective — but because the nervous system needs to feel safe enough to use it.
Feel It, Don’t Fight It
This week in our September series, we’re exploring how somatic therapy complements the structured, skills-based model of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).
You don’t have to choose between skills and sensations.
Sometimes, it’s the combination that helps you stay afloat.
When CBT Isn’t Enough: Integrating the Body Into Thought Work
From the therapist’s chair, I want to talk about how I’ve seen this pairing support clients — and myself — in ways that feel both practical and profound.
CBT is a tool I’ve used for years — personally and professionally.
It’s structured, evidence-based, and deeply empowering. It offers a way to notice and shift thought patterns that might be keeping us stuck.
And in moments of overwhelm or emotional spirals, it can feel like a lifeline.