www.desertintegrativewellness.com www.DesertHealthNews.com January/February 2026 Integrative Medicine The Valley's Leading Resource for Health and Wellness 11 Modern technology that supports pain relief, energy improvement, and nervous system recovery Text, call or email to book your $75 two-hour introductory session. 760.349.1248 contact@desertintegrative.com 45190 Club Drive • Indian Wells desertintegrativewellness.com Offering Immersive and Private Light Room Sessions in relaxing zero-gravity recliners with 528 Hz frequency-based surround sound Dialectical Behavior Therapy-Informed (DBT) Coaching with option to sit in The Light Room Chair for enhanced physiological regulation and cognitive clarity Guided Skill-Based Groups (Grief & Loss, Love & Connection) held in The Light Room to deepen insight, regulation and connection Our center is built around The Light System™, a non-invasive technology that uses bioactive energy fields and biophotonic light to help activate the body's innate healing capacity. ANDREW JACOBS Executive Director/Co-founder LINDA OLSON, PSY. D, MSW Clinical Psychologist/Co-founder At Vitara Wellness, we offer RCX™ Regenerative Cell Therapy— a comprehensive, non-surgical treatment designed to work with your body’s natural repair systems. This personalized therapy helps reduce inflammation, support functional recovery, and improve mobility so you can stay active, strong, and energized. ADVANCED REGENERATIVE & PRECISION MEDICINE Sports or soft tissue injuries Joint or arthritis pain Chronic neck or back conditions Age-related stiffness or degeneration Post-surgical pain & recovery P. JEFFREY SMITH, D.O. SCHEDULE YOUR CONSULTATION AT VITARA WELLNESS TODAY PERSONALIZED RELIEF FOR PAIN, PERFORMANCE & LONGEVITY IDEAL FOR 760-208-4011 bewell@vitarawellness.com 73345 Hwy 111 Suite 203B Palm Desert, CA 92260 Interventional Spine, Joint & Sports Pain Management Regenerative Medicine | Health Optimization Have you ever wondered why you react the way you do, and still find yourself reacting anyway? You know the pattern. You’ve reflected on it. You can explain it clearly. And yet, in the moment, your body tightens, your thoughts race, or everything goes quiet before you can intervene. This isn’t a lack of insight; it’s a nervous system doing exactly what it learned to do: protect you. That is where dialectical behavior therapy becomes transformative. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) was developed in the late 1980s by psychologist Marsha Linehan to help people manage intense emotions, reduce reactivity and improve quality of life. While DBT originated as a clinical treatment model, its core principles—particularly dialectical thinking and skills for emotional regulation— translate powerfully into skills-based coaching and group settings when used ethically and appropriately. At the heart of DBT is one deceptively simple idea: dialectical thinking, the ability to hold two truths at the same time. Instead of thinking: I’m strong or I’m failing; I’m calmor I’m out of control; I can’t speak or I’ll lose connection, DBT teaches: I’m hurting and I’m capable; I feel overwhelmed and I can choose my next step; I can protect myself and stay grounded. This shift alone often reduces shame and restores internal stability. Why insight alone doesn’t create change Many people seeking support today are already deeply self-aware, particularly those who grew up in emotionally unsafe, invalidating or high-stress environments. They understand their history, their triggers and their patterns. But understanding is not the same as regulation. When the nervous system is dysregulated, logic goes offline, skills are hard to access, and emotions feel urgent and absolute. In those moments, people don’t need more insight; they need physiological support. This is why DBT works. It begins where real change actually happens, in the nervous system. DBT as a nervous-system framework DBT teaches practical, real-world skills in four core areas: • Mindfulness: noticing without judgment • Distress tolerance: surviving moments without making them worse • Emotion regulation: understanding and working with emotions • Interpersonal effectiveness: setting boundaries without self-erasure These skills help people pause instead of reacting, feel without collapsing and respond with greater effectiveness. But skills only stick when the body feels safe enough to learn. I often hear people say, “I know exactly what I should do. I just can’t do it when it matters.” What they’re describing isn’t resistance or failure; it’s a nervous system still operating in survival mode. DBT slows the moment down, creating just enough space between impulse and action for choice to return. That space is where change begins. Therapy versus DBT-informed coaching It’s important to be clear about how DBT is used. Psychotherapy focuses on diagnosis, treatment and clinical processing. (I provide psychotherapy separately through my licensed clinical practice.) DBT-informed coaching, on the other hand, is educational and skills-based. It supports people in regulating their nervous systems, applying DBT tools in daily life and navigating relationships and grief with greater steadiness. It may be offered in individual or group settings. DBT doesn’t promise that emotions will disappear; it teaches people how to stay present when emotions arrive. For many, DBT is the first time they realize: I’m not failing. My nervous system just needs support. And that realization is often the beginning of lasting change. Dr. Olson is a licensed clinical psychologist (in CT and GA) and a trauma-informed therapist and coach for emotional abuse, coercive control and childhood domestic violence. She is the wellness director of Desert Integrative Wellness and can be reached at (760) 349.1248. For more information, visit www.drlindaolson.com. When Insight Isn’t Enough An introduction to dialectical behavior therapy By Linda Olson, PsyD, MSW Reclaiming Intimacy (Part 3 of 3) Continued from page 7 What Makes Us Happy? Continued from page 10 for erection. It also interferes with nitric oxide release, limiting blood flow. Chronic intake can lower testosterone, damage nerves, raise blood pressure, and contribute to liver disease—all factors associated with erectile dysfunction. Even moderate use may reduce erectile quality, and reducing alcohol consumption often improves outcomes. Regular aerobic exercise improves endothelial function and nitric oxide availability. Weight loss enhances insulin sensitivity and testosterone levels. A heart-healthy diet supports vascular integrity. Smoking cessation restores blood vessel function. Stress management and adequate sleep improve hormonal and psychological health. Unlike medications or procedures, lifestyle interventions carry minimal risk and provide broad health benefits. A comprehensive strategy that prioritizes overall health and uses medical therapy when appropriate offers the most sustainable path to improved erectile function and overall well-being. Dr. Maya Kato is the founder of Aesthetic Art and can be reached at (760) 592.7310. For more information visit www.drmayakato.com. Sources: 1) Esposito K, Giugliano F, Di Palo C, et al. Effect of lifestyle changes on erectile dysfunction in obese men: A randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2004;291(24):2978–2984; 2) Burnett AL, Nehra A, Breau RH, et al. Erectile dysfunction: AUA guideline. The Journal of Urology. 2018;200(3):633–641. Cultivate a habit of noticing kindness. This shifts your mindset toward gratitude and optimism. Belief in the kindness of others is strongly tied to happiness. Keep a “kindness journal.” Reflect on moments when others helped you. Acknowledge your own acts of caring. The 2025 World Happiness Report offers a hopeful message: happiness is not solely determined by wealth or material success. Instead, it flourishes in environments where people care for one another, share experiences and build trust. Finland’s continued success underscores the power of strong social systems, while the global data highlights a universal truth—kindness is a cornerstone of human happiness. On March 20, let’s celebrate the International Day of Happiness together. We eagerly await the 2026 report and the data that continues to support the fact that, at the heart of who we are, we all strive to be happy. Dr. Susan Murphy is a best-selling author, business consultant and speaker on relationships, conflict, leadership and goal-achievement. Her 13th book, Leading Successful Teams (used at Harvard, Stanford and the Mayo Clinic), is available online. www.DrSusanMurphy.com. For more information visit www.worldhappiness.report.
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