What is Dialectical Behavioural Therapy?

What is DBT?

DBT offers interventions of practical skills, often discussed using acronyms for easy memorization, that aid in increasing distress tolerance, emotional regulation and interpersonal skills, such as boundaries. These interventions are also often rooted in mindfulness. DBT aims to replace problematic behaviours with skills to increase functioning [2]. DBT-informed therapists work to dialectically balance the need to stay the same and the need to make changes. You will likely get “homework” with a DBT-informed therapist to track the skills used between sessions. Although originally created to help address Borderline Personality Disorder, and reduce self-harming behaviours and suicidality, DBT has been proven to be effective for many problems such as eating disorders, treatment-resistant depression, and addictions (Linehan, 2015; Pederson & Pederson, 2017). “Standard DBT” offers lengthy programs consisting of individual and group sessions, with phone coaching between sessions [1]. Hope Psychology therapists consider themselves DBT-informed and do not offer Standard Dialectical Behavioural Therapy as no group therapy and coaching between sessions is available. Instead, Hope Psychology offers an eclectic approach utilizing DBT skills along with other therapy modalities to give you the best care that suits your specific needs.

Sources

[1] Dialectical behavioural therapy. CAMH. (n.d.). https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/dialectical-behaviour-therapy

[2] Pederson, L., & Pederson, C. S. (2017). The expanded dialectical behavior therapy skills training manual: DBT for self-help, and individual and group treatment settings. PESI Publishing & Media, Pesi Publishing & Media.