Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) that was developed by Marsha Linehan in the late 1980s, primarily to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD). It’s based on the idea of balancing acceptance and change, helping individuals develop skills to manage intense emotions, build healthier relationships, and cope with distress.
DBT focuses on four main skill sets:
Mindfulness: Learning to stay present in the moment, rather than being caught up in thoughts or emotional reactivity. It’s about observing without judgment and accepting what is happening in the present.
Distress Tolerance: Building the ability to tolerate and survive crises without resorting to unhealthy behaviors. This involves techniques like self-soothing, distraction, and improving the moment.
Emotion Regulation: Understanding and managing intense emotions without letting them take control. It involves recognizing, labeling, and changing emotions in a healthy way.
Interpersonal Effectiveness: Developing skills to navigate relationships in a way that is both assertive and respectful. This includes skills for saying no, setting boundaries, and asking for what you need.
DBT is often used for people with self-destructive behaviors, like self-harm, suicidal ideation, or chronic emotional dysregulation. It has also been adapted for use in various other contexts, such as treating eating disorders, substance use disorders, PTSD, and depression.
The “dialectical” aspect of DBT refers to the idea that two seemingly opposite things can both be true at once — such as the need to accept things as they are while also striving for change. It’s about finding a balance between these two perspectives.
Shervan K Shahhian
LIBERTY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 