Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a specialized form of therapy that is designed to help adults, adolescents and their families cope with dysregulated emotions and behaviors.

DBT Therapy consists of Four Core modules:

Mindfullness

Emotional Regulation

Interpersonal Effectiveness

Distress Tolerance

The Focus Points Of DBT Therapy

In DBT, individuals learn to accept their current reality while also working on changing unhelpful behaviors. Some behaviors include:

Impulsivity

Overwhelming Emotions such as sadness, anxiety, or anger

Struggles with identity or a constantly changing "sense of self"

Difficulty Maintaining Healthy Relationships

Interpersonal Effectiveness

Goals of using DBT Therapy:

DBT encourages embracing the current circumstances and simultaneously initiating positive changes.

Meeting Needs

Learn how to get people to meet your needs.

Influence

Get others to do what you want or take your opinions seriously.

Balancing Relationships

Strengthen current relationships, build new ones, and end unhealthy or toxic relationships.

Balance Change and Acceptance

Strive for equilibrium between change and acceptance.

Frequently Asked Questions:

DBT, or Dialectical Behavior Therapy, is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that focuses on teaching individuals skills to cope with stress, regulate emotions, and improve relationships with others. It's particularly effective for those dealing with emotional dysregulation, such as in borderline personality disorder, but can also benefit individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and PTSD.

DBT stands out due to its unique focus on the balance between acceptance and change. It combines standard cognitive-behavioral techniques for emotion regulation and reality-testing with concepts of distress tolerance, acceptance, and mindful awareness largely derived from Buddhist meditative practice.

DBT includes four core modules: Mindfulness (improving one's ability to accept and be present in the current moment), Emotional Regulation (managing and changing intense emotions that are causing problems in a person’s life), Distress Tolerance (increasing tolerance to negative emotion, rather than trying to escape from it), and Interpersonal Effectiveness (learning to assert one's needs and manage conflicts in relationships).

How long does DBT Therapy typically last?

DBT can be conducted in both individual and group settings. Individual therapy sessions focus on addressing personal challenges and ensuring the skills are being applied to real-life situations. Group therapy sessions, on the other hand, are typically focused on teaching and practicing the DBT skills in a supportive group environment. Many programs offer a combination of both to maximize the benefits of DBT.