What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy or DBT
What is DBT?
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a modified type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Its main goals are to teach people how to live in the moment, develop healthy ways to cope with stress, regulate their emotions, and improve their relationships with others.
What are the main components of DBT?
Emotional Regulation
Mindfulness
Interpersonal effectiveness
Distress tolerance
Who can benefit from DBT?
DBT was originally developed for those struggling with borderline personality disorder (BPD), but it has been adapted to treat other mental health conditions. It is often used to treat people who have experienced traumatic events, struggle with relationships and have difficulty managing overwhelming emotions. It can also help those struggling with substance use, eating disorders are who struggle with suicidal thoughts or actions.
Though developed with BPD in mind, DBT might also be an effective treatment for:
Eating disorders (such as anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and bulimia nervosa)
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
Major depressive disorder (including treatment-resistant major depression and chronic depression)
Self-harm such as cutting
What can DBT help with?
Acceptance and change: You’ll learn strategies to accept and tolerate your life circumstances, emotions, and yourself. You will also develop skills that can help you make positive changes in your behaviors and interactions with others.
Behavioral: You'll learn to analyze problems or destructive behavior patterns and replace them with more healthy and effective ones.
Cognitive: You'll focus on changing thoughts and beliefs that are not effective or helpful.
Collaboration: You'll learn to communicate effectively and work together as a team (therapist, group therapist, psychiatrist).
Skill sets: You’ll learn new skills to enhance your capabilities.
Support: You'll be encouraged to recognize your positive strengths and attributes and develop and use them.
