What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

DBT is a highly specialized cognitive-behavioral therapy designed specifically to address problems in emotion regulation*. DBT balances behavioral change strategies with acceptance strategies from Zen Buddhist practice. It’s one of the newer 3rd wave CBTs which are mindfulness based and contextual.

I think of the most appealing aspects of DBT is its assumption that all individuals have inherent wisdom although there may be obstacles to accessing it. The therapist’s job is to help remove these obstacles. An overarching treatment objective of DBT is more balanced and less extreme behavior, thinking and emotional responding.

Within a DBT framework, difficulties regulating emotions are the result of skills deficits. We’re not born with emotion regulation skills. We need to be taught the skills as children by our parents and caretakers, and often this teaching doesn’t take place.
The good news is the skills can be learned now.AND once these skills are in someone’s repertoire, emotion regulation problems subside. This leads to improvements in behavior and relationships.

DBT is a multi component treatment. There’s a once weekly skills training group where participants learn mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, relationship enhancement and middle path skills.

Clients attend once weekly individual sessions where customized application of the skills happen to help clients make the changes they want. The therapist helps the client build what we call the life worth living, a life that reflects their values and priories and offer long-term satisfaction and reward.In between sessions, the therapist is available for coaching in the skills to increase the likelihood they’re actually used in their life outside of therapy.

Although DBTwas originally developed to treat people with very severe problems, it’s applicability has increased and used to treat a much wider variety of problems including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and substance abuse.
Our DBT program was designed specifically for high-functioning people who maintain full-time work or school schedules. Many high functioning and successful people can still have difficulties with emotion regulation and can benefit immensely from DBT. Because work and school are often an important source of meaning in their lives, our groups are held in the evening.