What Is Dialectical Behavioral Therapy?

DBT Therapy is a potent combination of cognitive and behavioral therapies originally created for chronically suicidal individuals and those affected by borderline personality disorder (BPD).

The goal of DBT therapy is to transform negative thinking patterns and destructive behaviors into positive outcomes using a variety of problem solving and acceptance-based techniques within a framework of dialectical methods. By freeing individuals from their negative thought processes and helping them to establish mindfulness practices and emotional regulation, they will be better prepared to manage any challenging hardships that lay ahead.

Along with being the gold standard for treating borderline personality disorder, DBT has proven to be highly successful in treating a variety of other mental disorders.

Designed to address the complexities of these often-debilitating disorders that are challenging to treat, DBT uses a combination of group, individual therapy, and coaching to help clients better regulate their emotions, manage their behaviors, and improve overall functioningExecutive profiles – A company is only as strong as its executive leadership. This is a good place to show off who’s occupying the corner offices. Write a nice bio about each executive that includes what they do, how long they’ve been at it, and what got them to where they are.

DBT incorporates a combination of group and individual therapy sessions that seek to teach individuals valuable self-management skills.

Different than other psychotherapies that utilize a more singular approach to treatment, a standard DBT program consists of a combination of highly effective components that consist of the following:

1 – DBT Individual Therapy

With DBT individual therapy, clients meet one-on-one with a therapist to address the unique challenges faced in their everyday lives. Individual meetings occur one or more times per week throughout the entirety of the therapeutic process.

2 – DBT Skills Training 

DBT skills training allows clients to connect with others who are experiencing similar difficulties in life. DBT is performed in a group setting, and the therapist teaches a variety of skills and assigns homework for each member to carry out on their own. The homework calls upon the clients to practice using their newly learned skills on a regular basis.

DBT skills training classes meet one or more times per week. In a standard outpatient DBT program, it takes about 6 months to complete the entire skills curriculum. The same curriculum is commonly repeated for another 6 months to create a full 1-year program. In a DBT intensive outpatient program or a residential DBT program, the skills are taught in a more accelerated manner by increasing the number of skills groups taught per week.

Within the group skills training component there are 4 specific modules – each module is crucial to the overall effectiveness of treatment. Skills learned in each module enable the client to redefine their identity and lead a more productive life. The four DBT modules are as follows:

Emotional Regulation Because many clients experience fluctuations of extreme emotionshelping to regulate clients’ emotions during stressful times is a primary goal. Emotional regulation helps the client to better understand, adapt, and alter their emotions to improve their mindset. A structured approach includes being able to identify emotions, reduce vulnerability to reactive behaviors, and identify obstacles to changing emotions.

Distress Tolerance Here, clients learn to reframe their thoughts, implement self-soothing techniques, and better understand the present moment to better cope with uncomfortable events and occurrences that cause anxiety and stress.

Mindfulness The practice of being fully aware and present in the moment, which is achieved through a variety of techniques. Clients are encouraged to keep a diary and reflect on the challenges and triumphs of their daily efforts along the way.

Interpersonal Effectiveness Helping clients learn how to speak up for what they want is the goal of this approach. Interpersonal effectiveness provides the tools for helping clients to ask effectively for what they need and also helps them to say no in a way that minimizes conflict and keeps relationships healthy.

3 - DBT SKILLS

Because added therapeutic assistance may be needed between sessions, clients are encouraged to call their therapists during times when in-the-moment support might be necessary for stressful situations that occur in clients’ everyday lives. Here, therapists coach clients over the phone on how to use the skills they’ve learned in group and individual therapy settings.

4 – DBT Therapist Consultation Team

Due to the severity and complexity of the issues encountered by those who provide DBT, a consultation team is considered essential for DBT providers. To offer optimal care to the client, individual therapists, skills training group leaders, case managers, and others who are part of the treatment team meet on a weekly basis to compare notes, share knowledge, and motivate one another as they move forward with treatment plans. Along with helping maintain a high level of motivation and competence among support team members, these weekly consultations also prove vital to preventing provider burnout.

At the end of the day, we’re here to help you clarify what your own goals are and because we know everyone’s values are different, we’ll define what value-based living looks like to you. Then we’ll ask the question, “What would it look like if you were living more consistently with your values?” Instead of feeling powerless in your situation, we’ll explore what’s within your control. We’ll identify what you can do to make changes that support your goals. Finally, we’ll help you to establish maintenance practices for preventing and preparing for future life challenges independently.