DIALECTICAL BEHAVIOUR THERAPY (DBT)
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DIALECTICAL BEHAVIOUR THERAPY (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of therapy that helps people manage their emotions, improve relationships, and cope with distressing situations that is a collaborative and strength focused approach.
What is Dialectical Behavioural Therapy?
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) is a type of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) that was developed by psychologist Marsha Linehan to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD). It has since been adapted to treat other mental health conditions such as eating disorders, substance abuse, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
DBT was created to support individuals in emotional regulation, interpersonal skills, distress tolerance, and mindfulness skills. The key focus of DBT is balancing acceptance and change. It recognizes that individuals need acceptance and validation for their experiences while also promoting change towards more healthy coping strategies. In DBT, therapists work closely with the clients nervous system with the goal of increasing the development of self-soothing tools.
To experience growth in life, we must first heal from our past, so we can be truly present.
What Can You Expect from DBT?
- Deeper understanding of your emotions and what they are communicating to you.
- Learning how to increase your ability to tolerate stressful environments without feeling out of control.
- Increased ability to communicate and connect with other people (Friends, Family, Partner, Co-Workers, etc) in an assertive style.
- Gaining mindfulness to be present in your daily life.
- Learning ways to regulate yourself during times of high stress to allow yourself the ability to stay in connection rather than disconnection.
- Promoting positive self-esteem and gaining self confidence in your ability to handle stressful situations and conflict.
How Effective is DBT?
As for effectiveness, DBT has shown promising results in various clinical studies. It has been found to be effective in treating substance abuse, PTSD reducing self-destructive behaviours, decreasing suicide attempts, and improving overall emotional well-being.
DBT may be for you if you:
- Connecting to your emotions is difficult
- Have trouble maintaining stable relationships
- Lack the experience with the range of your emotions
- Find it hard to tolerate change and an increase in your stress levels
- Have high reactivity to certain environments or situations and then is followed by shame or guilt
- Struggle to control your emotions; you feel like any increase in intensity and you couldn’t feel like you’d be able to control the outcome.