Dialectical Behavior Therapy is a research-based, cognitive-behavioral treatment originally developed by Marsha Linehan at the University of Washington, to help clients with the suicidal and self-harm behaviors. Since
it's origin, DBT has been used to successfully treat many different populations including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, impulsivity and self destructive behaviors. DBT is offered individually and in skills
training groups. Ideally, DBT is most effective when individual therapy and skills training groups are combined. DBT training is a great tool for adolescents who exhibit emotional dysregulation, poor self awareness, self
destructive behaviors, and difficulties relating or communicating to others.
Using both acceptance and change strategies, DBT asks both patient and therapist to find a balance between accepting reality as it is, and maintaining a strong commitment to change. Such treatment is ideally offered in an environment that is warm and validating, while attempting to offer enough challenge and guidance to effect behavioral change and reduction of harmful behaviors. The goal is to help clients create “a life worth living.”
The following areas are taught in DBT skills training groups:
Using both acceptance and change strategies, DBT asks both patient and therapist to find a balance between accepting reality as it is, and maintaining a strong commitment to change. Such treatment is ideally offered in an environment that is warm and validating, while attempting to offer enough challenge and guidance to effect behavioral change and reduction of harmful behaviors. The goal is to help clients create “a life worth living.”
The following areas are taught in DBT skills training groups:
- Mindfulness : The ability to take control of your mind instead of having your mind control you. Mindfulness helps direct your attention through the process of observing, describing and participating from a nonjudgmental perspective. This allows for more objective, effective, and meaningful experiences in the here and now
- Interpersonal Effectiveness : The ability to communicate and express yourself effectively while maintaining an understanding and a commitment to your objectives, your relationship to the person(s) and your self-respect.
- Emotion Regulation : The ability to regulate your emotions by understanding the relationship between thoughts, feelings, body sensations and behaviors. As well as, being aware of vulnerability factors related to emotional states such as; adequate sleep, balanced eating, appropriate medication usage, self-care, exercise and incorporating positive experiences in your daily life.
- Distress Tolerance : The ability to get through an already difficult time without making it worse. Self-destructive behaviors are often a result of ineffective ways of dealing with painful emotions. Distress tolerance teaches the use of distraction, radical acceptance and pros/cons as alternatives.