DBT typically refers to Dialectical Behavior Therapy, which is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that was developed to help individuals with emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness. It was originally designed to treat individuals with borderline personality disorder, but it has since been applied to a wider range of mental health challenges.
A complete DBT treatment is usually very comprehensive and incorporates individual therapy, group skills training, phone coaching, and a therapist consultation team.
We do not offer a complete DBT treatment in our clinic, but we do work with individuals on developing and implementing a range of DBT skills that are tailored to an individual’s needs.
So what are DBT skills?
DBT skills are the techniques and strategies taught in dialectical behavior therapy. These skills are organized into four main modules:
- Mindfulness: This module focuses on being present in the moment, observing without judgment, and learning to accept things as they are. Mindfulness skills can help individuals manage distressing emotions, reduce impulsivity, and improve focus.
- Emotion Regulation: These skills help individuals understand, manage, and change their emotional responses. They teach techniques for identifying and labeling emotions, increasing positive emotions, and decreasing negative emotions.
- Interpersonal Effectiveness: These skills teach individuals how to navigate and improve their relationships. They cover communication skills, setting healthy boundaries, asserting oneself effectively, and managing conflict.
- Distress Tolerance: Distress tolerance skills are designed to help individuals tolerate and cope with distressing situations without resorting to harmful behaviors. These skills include self-soothing techniques, distraction strategies, and crisis survival skills.
How dbt skills can help a person:
- Emotional Regulation: Learning to identify and manage emotions can help individuals reduce impulsive and reactive behavior, leading to improved decision-making and overall emotional well-being.
- Improved Relationships: Interpersonal effectiveness skills can enhance communication, conflict resolution, and the ability to set boundaries. This can lead to more fulfilling and harmonious relationships.
- Distress Management: Distress tolerance skills equip individuals with healthier ways to cope with difficult situations, reducing the likelihood of harmful behaviors like self-harm or substance abuse.
- Mindfulness and Present-Moment Awareness: Practicing mindfulness can increase awareness of thoughts and emotions, allowing individuals to respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively. This can lead to a greater sense of control over one’s actions and emotions.
- Increased Self-Awareness: dbt skills encourage self-reflection, helping individuals understand their thought patterns, emotional triggers, and behaviors. This self-awareness can be pivotal in making positive changes in one’s life.
- Reduced Symptoms: While dbt is often associated with borderline personality disorder, it has been found effective for a range of mental health issues including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and eating disorders. Learning and applying dbt skills can lead to symptom reduction and improved overall functioning.
- Resilience Building: By teaching individuals how to handle distress and negative emotions in healthy ways, dbt skills can enhance resilience, enabling individuals to bounce back from setbacks and challenges more effectively.