Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based psychological approach designed to help people who experience intense emotions, impulsivity and difficulties in their interpersonal relationships.
It was developed by Marsha Linehan and combines strategies from cognitive behavioural therapy with principles of acceptance and mindfulness.
The word ‘dialectical’ refers to the integration of two seemingly opposing ideas: acceptance and change. DBT works by deeply validating suffering whilst developing concrete tools to modify behaviours that cause distress.
DIALECTICAL BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (DBT)
DBT treatment modules
DBT is structured around four main skill modules. These modules provide practical tools for regulating intense emotions, reducing impulsivity and improving interpersonal relationships:
Mindfulness: mindfulness forms the foundation for the other modules. In DBT, mindfulness involves being fully present in the moment and observing thoughts, emotions and sensations without reacting automatically. It involves describing one’s internal experience and reducing constant self-judgement.
Emotional regulation: this module teaches how to understand and manage intense emotions. It focuses on correctly identifying and naming emotions, reducing emotional sensitivity, understanding the adaptive function of each emotion, and intentionally generating positive emotions.
Distress tolerance: this module focuses on managing crises without making the situation worse. It aims to get through the pain without resorting to harmful behaviours. It covers healthy distraction strategies, self-soothing and physiological regulation techniques, and radical acceptance of situations that cannot be changed at that moment.
Interpersonal effectiveness: this module focuses on improving the quality of relationships. We work on communication: being able to ask for what you need clearly, saying ‘no’ without excessive guilt, maintaining self-esteem in difficult interactions, and balancing personal goals with our relationships.
What is DBT?
