When emotions feel too big to manage, it’s easy to feel like you’re drowning.
Maybe your reactions feel overwhelming even to you — intense sadness, anger, fear, or shame that seems to come out of nowhere. You might find yourself swinging between extremes: one moment feeling close to someone, the next wanting to pull away. Or perhaps you feel numb, disconnected, unsure how to handle the intensity bubbling under the surface.
It’s not that you don’t know what you “should” do. It’s that in the moment, everything feels too fast, too strong, too much.
If this sounds familiar, you are not alone — and it’s not your fault.
We offer Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) therapy in Brisbane at our Nurtured Thoughts Psychology Practice. We use a compassionate, evidence-based approach designed to help you steady yourself, manage overwhelming emotions, strengthen your relationships, and move through life with more clarity, calm, and self-respect.
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Recognising the Signs
Emotional challenges can creep into your life in both subtle and obvious ways. You might notice
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Intense Mood Shifts: Feeling calm one moment and overwhelmed the next, without warning.
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Struggling to Manage Reactions: Saying or doing things in the heat of the moment that you later regret.
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Avoiding People or Situations: Pulling away from relationships or activities because they feel too overwhelming.
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Constant Anxiety or Physical Tension: Racing thoughts, a pounding heart, or a body that feels constantly on edge.
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Relationship Struggles: Feeling misunderstood or caught in painful arguments with people you care about.
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Feeling Stuck or Hopeless: Swinging between intense emotions and numbness, unsure how to move forward.
Recognising the Signs
Recognising these signals is not a sign of weakness—it can be your first courageous step towards meaningful change.
The EMDR Difference
Think of EMDR as helping your brain do what it naturally wants to do: heal. When overwhelming events or experiences aren’t fully processed, they can become “stuck,” leaving you sensitive to triggers or caught in emotional patterns that feel hard to explain.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR doesn’t require you to relive every detail of the past. Instead, it gently guides your brain to reprocess painful memories, reducing their emotional charge and making space for new, healthier connections.
An analogy many clients find helpful: EMDR is like clearing a traffic jam in your mind — stuck memories start to move, and your mind can finally return to a smoother, calmer flow.
Evidence-Based Techniques
Our EMDR approach combines the latest research with real-world care. Some of the ways we support you include:
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Memory Reprocessing: Safely activating and working through distressing memories so they no longer hold the same emotional weight.
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Bilateral Stimulation: Using gentle eye movements, tapping, or sounds to help your brain process and integrate memories more adaptively.
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Grounding and Stabilisation: Building practical skills to help you feel safe, centred, and ready before beginning deeper memory work.
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Identifying Core Beliefs: Uncovering and reshaping painful beliefs (such as “I’m not safe” or “I’m not good enough”) that may have formed during past experiences.
Understanding DBT
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a specialised form of cognitive–behavioural therapy developed to help people manage intense emotions, impulsive behaviours, and relationship difficulties. The “dialectical” aspect refers to balancing two ideas that can seem opposite: acceptance (of where you are right now) and change (making positive, growth-oriented steps forward).
Understanding DBT
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Your Personal Growth Journey
Everyone’s trauma story is different — and so is the path to healing. At Nurtured Thoughts Psychology, we adapt EMDR to fit your pace, your comfort level, and your goals. We take the time to build trust, ensure you feel safe, and equip you with stabilisation tools before moving into memory processing — so you feel supported at every step. Whether you prefer to move gently and slowly, or feel ready to dive deeper, we personalise each session to meet you where you are.
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Although DBT was initially designed for borderline personality disorder, research now shows its effectiveness for conditions such as anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, eating disorders, and more.
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Key DBT Components
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Mindfulness: Learning to remain present, fully engaging with what you are doing in each moment.
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Distress Tolerance: Building healthier ways to cope with emotional crises or overwhelming situations
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Emotion Regulation: Gaining skills to understand, label, and respond to intense feelings before they spiral.
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Interpersonal Effectiveness: Enhancing communication and boundary-setting, crucial for healthier relationships.
Key DBT Components
Our Approach at Nurtured Thoughts Psychology
At our boutique practice in Graceville, QLD, we believe therapy should fit your life, not the other way round.
Here’s what you can expect from our DBT therapy in Brisbane:
Our Approach
at Nurtured Thoughts Psychology
WHAT TO EXPECT IN
THERAPY
A Welcoming Environment
We understand the courage it takes to seek support. Our clinic feels more like a calming sanctuary than a traditional medical office. You’ll be greeted with warmth and respect, so you can focus on healing rather than feeling judged.
Tailored Sessions
No two journeys are alike. We’ll adapt DBT techniques to suit your particular goals—whether that’s managing daily stress, healing from trauma, improving communication skills, or seeking relief from mood swings. We also offer the option of group DBT sessions and online consultations for those who prefer additional flexibility.
Practical Skills & Techniques
From mindfulness and self-soothing exercises to problem-solving strategies, we’ll guide you through each DBT skill in a step-by-step manner. You’ll discover fresh perspectives on emotional triggers and learn how to respond with self-compassion rather than harsh self-criticism.
Ongoing Support & Understanding
Therapy is not a quick fix but a relationship rooted in trust. Our DBT-trained therapists will work alongside you, celebrating your progress and helping you navigate any hurdles that arise on your path. It’s a collaborative process designed to empower you, both in and beyond each session.
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The Benefits of DBT
The Benefits of DBT
Many individuals find that DBT therapy improves various areas of their life
Ultimately, DBT offers practical tools for building a life that feels more stable, meaningful, and fulfilling—even when challenges arise.
Emotional Balance: Regain control over intense feelings and respond with more calm and clarity.
Better Coping Skills: Handle stress, anxiety, and low mood with practical tools you can use anytime.
Stronger Relationships: Communicate more openly, set healthy boundaries, and build closer connections.
Greater Self-Awareness: Understand your emotions without judgement and strengthen your sense of self-worth.
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