Dialectical Behaviour Therapy

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based therapeutic intervention that was developed by Marsha Linehan. DBT was designed to address difficulties with emotion regulation, impulse control, self-defeating behaviours, and interpersonal conflicts. It can be administered in either individual psychotherapy or group therapy. Regardless of the method of administration, DBT includes learning four main skills: 

• Mindfulness - Learning to be present and notice your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours without trying to control them. 
• Distress Tolerance - Learning skills to cope effectively during a crisis
• Interpersonal Effectiveness - Building assertiveness, setting boundaries, and building self-respect 
• Emotion Regulation - Learning to manage emotions and build healthy coping skills

Dialectical means the “existence of opposites”. In DBT, individuals are taught two seemingly opposite strategies: acceptance and change. Acceptance conveys to clients that their experience is valid whereas change reinforces the idea that change needs to take place in order to move forward. The goal of DBT is to help individuals learn new skills in order to handle difficult emotions and to decrease conflict in relationships.