Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

DBT is a psychotherapy that was originally developed to treat individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD). It has since been recognized as an effective treatment for a variety of disorders, such as addiction treatment, Depression, Anxiety, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

The term “dialectical” means an integration of opposites. DBT helps clients find balance between acceptance and change. It is based on four key skills that clients learn either in session with their therapist or in a separate skills group. The four skills modules include two sets of acceptance-oriented skills (mindfulness and distress tolerance) and two sets of change-oriented skills (emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness).

DBT Skills

DBT includes four behavioral skill modules, with two acceptance-oriented skills (mindfulness and distress tolerance) and two change-oriented skills (emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness).

  • Mindfulness: the practice of being fully aware and present in this one moment
  • Distress Tolerance: how to tolerate pain in difficult situations, not change it
  • Interpersonal Effectiveness: how to ask for what you want and say no while maintaining self-respect and relationships with others
  • Emotion Regulation: how to decrease vulnerability to painful emotions and change emotions that you want to change

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