At Rainbow Hill Recovery, serving Los Angeles, CA, and surrounding areas, we understand the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ individuals. From societal stigma to personal struggles, navigating life’s complexities can be overwhelming. That’s why we offer Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) as part of our holistic approach to healing. DBT is an evidence-based therapeutic method designed to help you manage emotions, improve relationships, and live a balanced, fulfilling life.
This guide explores what DBT is, how it works, why it’s particularly helpful for LGBTQ individuals, and how Rainbow Hill Recovery supports you on your healing journey.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) that helps individuals manage intense emotions, reduce harmful behaviors, and build healthier relationships. Initially developed for individuals with borderline personality disorder, DBT has proven effective for a variety of challenges, including:
DBT balances two key elements: acceptance and change. It helps you embrace your current reality while equipping you with tools to make meaningful, positive changes in your life.
Living as an LGBTQ person often comes with unique challenges, including:
DBT provides a structured, supportive framework to address these challenges, empowering LGBTQ individuals to build resilience and thrive.
At Rainbow Hill Recovery, DBT is tailored to help LGBTQ individuals better manage emotional challenges and improve overall well-being. The therapy focuses on four core skills:
Mindfulness teaches you to stay present and observe your emotions and thoughts without judgment. This skill helps you understand your emotional responses and make intentional, healthier decisions.
When life feels overwhelming, distress tolerance skills help you navigate difficult moments without escalating the situation. Techniques like deep breathing and self-soothing exercises enable you to manage stress more effectively.
DBT helps you identify and label your emotions, reducing emotional intensity and unhealthy reactions. For LGBTQ individuals, this is especially valuable in addressing societal pressures or personal struggles.
Healthy relationships are vital to mental well-being. DBT provides tools for improving communication, setting boundaries, and resolving conflicts in a constructive way.
To support your healing journey, we offer a wide range of therapies and services alongside DBT
Engage in creative methods like art and movement to process emotions and gain deeper self-awareness.
Blending traditional and alternative approaches, our integrative therapies address mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
Understand the connection between brain chemistry and emotional health while learning strategies to maintain long-term recovery.
Support and validate your gender identity and sexual orientation, fostering self-acceptance and resilience.
Reduce stress and promote relaxation through therapeutic sound vibrations.
Enhance your physical health, reduce tension, and complement emotional healing with chiropractic care.
At Rainbow Hill Recovery, we offer Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) as a proven approach to managing emotions, improving relationships, and reducing harmful behaviors. Our LGBTQ-friendly environment ensures you feel supported, valued, and understood throughout your healing journey.
Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, depression, or past trauma, DBT empowers you to build emotional resilience and create a more balanced life.
You deserve a space where you can heal, grow, and thrive. At Rainbow Hill Recovery, serving Los Angeles, CA, and surrounding areas, we provide compassionate care and the tools you need to navigate life’s challenges.
Joie Gyondla serves as Rainbow Hill Recovery’s Clinical Support Coordinator, bringing compassion, empathy, and a genuine commitment to supporting every client who walks through our doors. With a background in recovery support, Joie understands the importance of creating a welcoming, organized, and affirming environment where individuals feel seen, valued, and supported throughout their treatment journey.
Working closely with both clients and the clinical team, Joie helps ensure that each person’s experience is as seamless as possible, providing encouragement, guidance, and practical support every step of the way. Her calm presence and dedication to helping others foster a sense of safety and connection that allows clients to focus on what matters most: their recovery.
Joie believes that healing begins with compassion and that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a lasting difference. She is proud to be part of the Rainbow Hill Recovery team, helping create a community where every individual is empowered to build a healthier, more authentic future.
Co-Founder of the LGBTQ+ Association for Addiction and Mental Health Professionals Clinical Outreach Specialist for Rainbow Hill Recovery LGBTQ Sensitivity Training Consultant
Steven Buffin-Stewart is the Case Manager at Rainbow Hill Recovery, with over five years of experience in substance use and mental health treatment. A CADC ll professional in recovery themselves, Steven combines clinical knowledge with lived experience to provide compassionate, coordinated care and foster inclusive, affirming spaces where clients feel supported, empowered, and hopeful in their healing journey.
Steven Buffin-Stewart is the Program and Case Manager at Rainbow Hill Recovery, with over five years of experience in substance use and mental health treatment. A CADC ll professional in recovery themselves, Steven combines clinical knowledge with lived experience to provide compassionate, coordinated care and foster inclusive, affirming spaces where clients feel supported, empowered, and hopeful in their healing journey.
Janae Borrego serves as Rainbow Hill Recovery’s Cross-Cultural Relations Officer and Outpatient Therapist, where she combines her clinical expertise with a deep commitment to fostering an inclusive, culturally responsive environment for every client. Her ability to understand, appreciate, and navigate diverse cultural perspectives has made her an invaluable leader as Rainbow Hill continues to grow and evolve.
In her role, Janae works to strengthen cultural understanding throughout the organization, ensuring that clients, families, and staff feel respected, heard, and represented. She provides ongoing guidance on cultural sensitivity and inclusive practices while helping shape programs that honor the unique identities, backgrounds, and lived experiences of those we serve.
As an Outpatient Therapist, Janae is dedicated to helping clients navigate recovery, mental health, and life’s challenges with compassion, authenticity, and evidence-based care. She believes that meaningful healing begins when individuals feel safe to show up as their authentic selves and receive support that acknowledges the whole person.
Janae is passionate about creating spaces where diversity is celebrated, connection is strengthened, and every individual has the opportunity to heal and thrive. Her leadership continues to advance Rainbow Hill Recovery’s mission of providing affirming, trauma-informed care that meets the evolving needs of the communities we serve.
With over a decade of experience in addiction recovery, Andrew is passionate about helping individuals reclaim their lives and find lasting healing. As Co-founder and Director of Rainbow Hill Recovery, he is dedicated to creating a supportive environment that fosters hope, resilience, and transformation.
Joey Bachrach is the Co-Founder and CEO of Rainbow Hill Recovery, an LGBTQ-affirming mental health and substance use treatment center in Los Angeles. Drawing from both professional leadership and lived recovery experience, Joey is dedicated to creating safe, inclusive spaces where individuals are fully seen, affirmed, and supported on their healing journey.