What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

“Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) provides clients with new skills to manage painful emotions and decrease conflict in relationships. DBT specifically focuses on providing therapeutic skills in four key areas. First, mindfulness focuses on improving an individual’s ability to accept and be present in the current moment. Second, distress tolerance is geared toward increasing a person’s tolerance of negative emotion, rather than trying to escape from it. Third, emotion regulation covers strategies to manage and change intense emotions that are causing problems in a person’s life. Fourth, interpersonal effectiveness consists of techniques that allow a person to communicate with others in a way that is assertive, maintains self-respect, and strengthens relationships.” –psychologytoday.com

DBT was originally used to treat patients with Borderline Personality Disorder, but it has since been adapted to treat a number of other mental health conditions, including: depression, bipolar disorder, substance abuse issues, eating disorders, or other conditions involving struggles with emotion regulation.

Traditional DBT is done in a combination of individual therapy, weekly group skills sessions, and weekly coaching phone calls with the DBT therapist; however, a number of therapists provide “DBT-informed” therapy, involving only individual therapy to teach clients the four main skill components. DBT is an intensive, but very effective, evidence-based treatment modality to address numerous mental health concerns.