The DBT Center

02/19/2026

Be Mindful to take moment today to relax your brain through meditation. When we meditate, our body through relaxed muscles, stops sending stress signals to the brain (afferent signals) which, in turn, reduces sympathetic signals (efferent) to our muscles. Try it and see.

The DBT Center is part of Kansas Mental Health Professionals, and is a clinic that specializes in treating mental health disorders and trauma utilizing Dialectical Behavior Therapy in group and individual settings.

02/07/2026

How are you doing with your resolution for change this year??? Struggling? As a specialization in behaviorism, DBT strengthens our resolve by focusing on goal-oriented decision making. Most folks “slip” back into ineffective behaviors due to emotional factors that come out in procrastination, or life’s distractions. Remember, there is logic behind your goals and when your motivation lags, try to remember how you benefit from your goals, and “do it anyways” (opposite action) and then see how you feel afterwards. Was it as bad as you felt it would be? Probably not. A moment of resolve and bravery to resist giving up can build lifelong patterns of effectiveness. Give it a shot today!

The DBT Center is part of Kansas Mental Health Professionals, and is a clinic that specializes in treating mental health disorders and trauma utilizing Dialectical Behavior Therapy in group and individual settings.

01/20/2026

Cheyenne Lara, LPC is a wonderful therapist who sees teens and adults using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Brain Spotting. Here's a quick video about her.

Produced with CyberLink PowerDirector

12/09/2025

If you are having challenges with establishing new habits, particularly with New Year’s resolution season around the corner, here is some advise. Start small. Do something easy everyday that has something to do with your goal. Then gradually increase the challenges over time. There is a reason why most attempts at starting a new healthier end with a few weeks - too much change too soon. Also, think of ways to reward yourself for completing challenges. See what happens. Make mindful choices out there!

12/06/2025

The holidays can be stressful due to problems associated with expense, or travel. For some, the stressors can also be related to missing loved ones who have passed, or spending time with family who may be interpersonally challenging. If this is your experience this year, try this:
1) Develop an idea of "what is the worst thing that can happen?" You can even write these things down, if necessary.
2) Develop an idea/plan for what coping skills you would need to manage the issues that could happen.
2) Using your imagination, "see" yourself effectively using the selected skills in that setting with the desired outcomes - Do this as much as possible before the event
3) Then engage in relaxation after each practice, through the use of Mindful Meditation.

This is called a Cope Ahead plan. Try it and leave a message about how it went.

Good luck out there...

12/01/2025

check us out!

12/01/2025

The DBT Center and Kansas Mental Health Professionals is starting a teen hygiene drive to provide kids in distressful situations, such as foster care, basic needs items to improve their quality of care. If you have the ability, please consider stopping by 1999 N Amidon, suite 335 and place any donated items under our holiday tree located in the lobby.

KMHP and The DBT Center appreciates our community's generosity and welcome other opportunities to serve Wichita citizens in need. Our office is typically open 10am to 6pm, Tuesday through Saturday, so please feel free to stop by and donate during those hours! Message with questions!

11/11/2025

The next Free DBT Training event is scheduled to take place 11/17 (next Monday) at 630pm. Alert: This class will be in The Bison Room - next door the previous room we were in. It Is still at the K-State Research and Extension of Sedgwick County https://www.sedgwick.k-state.edu/

There is a twist for this one. With the significant amount of amount of food insecurity in our communities recently, I’ve decided that I am going to ask attendees of the class to bring in Thanksgiving/Christmas food items, if possible. My plan is to donate the items to an lgbtq+ affirming church organization to gift a family or person in need, in order to provide a little help this season. So, if you plan to attend, and can do so, please consider supporting this effort by bringing in at least one food item as an “entry fee.”

Even if you can’t attend the group, I will accept food donations at my office at 1999 N Amidon, suite 335. I’ll have a box in the lobby and you can drop off donations there. I appreciate ya’lls support.

If you plan to attend, we will continuing our understanding of Mindfullness and practice some skills in this area. Time permitting, we will also talk about Distress Tolerance concepts. Hope lots of people can come. I had a great time at the last one!

If you plan to come and haven’t emailed me, please do so so that I know how many handouts to print.

Thanks!l

K-State Research and Extension is a statewide network of educators sharing unbiased, research-based information and expertise on issues important to Kansas.

10/01/2025

So many clients who are experiencing anxiety due to political stressors, creating an unbalanced and emotional fixation on a dystopian future. We have to be willing to accept that we cannot read minds, change the future through sure hope alone. Are you giving up "now" by being distracted by fear of the unknown? If so, learn to ground yourself in the moment you are in. There will be time to take action in due time, to vote, protest, and let your voice be heard. But what about right now? What can you do right now? "Nothing," you say? If your goal is to not feel as anxious or fearful, then is what you are doing right now in alignment with that goal, or is the distraction of fear getting in the way? Seek balance in "the here and now."

08/20/2025

Everyone that comes to therapy does so because of some fiction that they are engaging in. Reality is often much different than the fiction and can initially be more challenging; however, it is more effective to accept reality as it is, even when there is pain found in reality, than it is to avoid or deny. What is your fiction? How is it impacting the quality of your life? Visit with our DBT therapists to discover a path out of the fiction and into your real life. (913)680-8889.

08/15/2025

Today is the US National Relaxation Day! With issues in the world the way they are, we could probably all use some purposeful relaxation. Take some time today and breath deeply from your diaphragm (the long muscle just above your belly button). Close your eyes, inhale through your nasal passage and exhale out of your mouth. Feel your shoulders relaxing as though the muscles are just hanging off your frame. Ahhhh….. see what happens when you can notice your whole body and mind relaaaaaaaaxed….

08/12/2025

DBT is the delicate balance between acceptance and change, and between emotions and facts. Both present unique challenges because they require a willingness to be emotionally and cognitively flexible, and to accept things that are likely difficult. However, through turning the mind towards acceptance - even when we'd rather not, we find that we are more capable than we think. What can you accept today, even if it's something small? "I am not worthless!" "I can do this even if it's hard!"