Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is a type of psychotherapy that helps people learn to manage their emotions and improve their relationships. It was created by Dr. Marsha Linehan, originally for folks that had chronic suicidal thoughts and related behaviors, mostly seen in the diagnosis Borderline Personality Disorder. DBT is now used for many different diagnoses, symptoms, behaviors, and with various types of clients. It can be used to treat any life-threatening behaviors and any behaviors that are negatively affecting one’s life.
DBT can also be used for treatment-interfering behaviors. In addition to still treating Borderline Personality Disorder, DBT has been found to be effective in managing and/or treating ADHD symptoms, Binge Eating Disorder, Bulimia Nervosa, many types of addictions, self-harm behaviors, and Bipolar Disorder. Furthermore, it is a great mental health therapy to get clients stable enough and prepared for evidenced-based trauma treatments for PTSD and Dissociative Disorders.
DBT is a branch off of CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), but it focuses more on the behaviors than the thoughts. DBT is based on a bio-social model. It is a very validating therapy focusing on Dialectics: two opposites that are both true i.e. I want to get better/make the changes AND it is hard/I don’t want to do the work. The biggest dialectic of all is balancing change AND acceptance.
DBT is a skills-based therapy as well. It consists of skills building in 4 areas:
1. Mindfulness Skills – the foundation of the other skills. For mind control. Mindfulness is being aware and intentional in any given moment. It is being in the present.
2. Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills – for clients struggling with communication, asking for what they need, boundaries, and/or validation in relationships.
3. Emotion Regulation Skills – for clients who are struggling with big emotions that “drive the bus.” These skills help clients 1st be aware of their emotions and name them accurately. These skills also give clients ways to dial the emotions down, turn them into different emotions, get more positive emotions, and/or to better manage the emotions.
4. Distress Tolerance Skills – good if a client needs to learn to tolerate distress and emotions without using behaviors that ultimately make things worse.
There is Comprehensive Adherent DBT and there is DBT Informed.
Comprehensive Adherent DBT consists of 4 parts:
1. A client is in a 2-hour DBT skills group once a week.
2. The client is also attending an hour a week of individual therapy with a DBT intensively trained therapist.
3. The client has access to DBT skills coaching/crisis coaching via the phone, with either the group leader or their individual therapist, between sessions as needed.
4. And all of the client’s DBT therapists are meeting weekly to consult and to best help their shared clients.
Adherent Comprehensive DBT takes a big commitment and it can take 6 months to 1.5 years to complete.
At Columbus Behavioral Health we have many DBT Informed therapists who use the techniques in their sessions and teach their clients the skills. If you are interested in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy with one of our experienced therapists, please visit our provider directory to sign up for DBT counseling/therapy.
If you are a mental health provider, and you want to learn more about DBT and you want to become a DBT-Informed Therapist (using it in individual therapy and/or starting and running a DBT Skills Group) then take this DBT Training Course for 3 CEUs!
