About Dialectical
Behavior Therapy
Behavior Therapy
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Dialectical Behavior Therapy was developed by Marsha Linehan by combining a
cognitive behavioral therapeutic approach and a Buddhist philosophy of acceptance
and living in the moment. The result is an empirically-based, structured protocol that
includes individual therapy, skills training groups, coaching in crisis (phone
consultation, case management etc) consultation team (for clinicians and other DBT
providers) and additional modes of therapy (that may include inpatient treatment,
psychopharmocology etc). Although originally designed to help individuals who are
self-injurious and/or suicidal, it is most effective for individuals with any form of
EMOTION DYSREGULATION and has been adapted for individuals of all ages with
different diagnoses.
DBT is
Supportive,
Behavioral,
Cognitive,
Skill Oriented,
Collaborative and
Balances Acceptance and Change
Dialectics refers to the ability to hold two truths that seem like opposites and accept
that they both may be true. It means that individuals work towards a synthesis and
away from rigid, polarized thinking. The Core Dialectic is that individuals are doing
the best they can AND individuals need to change.
Skills Training involves learning skills that increase:
DBT involves learning to accept oneself, to be actively present in the moment, to
accept life as it is, to do what is effective (what works, what moves an individual
towards his/her own goals) and to appreciate the moment.
DBT also promotes the use of Validation (Acceptance) and Non-judgmental language
as a way to acknowledge an understanding of the feelings and behaviors of another
person. Acceptance is balanced with the need for an individual to change and is
necessary for that change to occur. For an article about Validation and Non-
judgmental language, see the article, "Using Validation and Nonjudgmental Language
When Working With Children/Adolescents and Their Parents" by scrolling down the
PESI 0n-line newsletter, PESIconnect.
The Distress Tolerance Module teaches skills that help individuals get through crisis,
difficult or painful moments or situations without resorting to problematic behaviors.
Skills include learning to distract from painful emotions by engaging in pleasant or
soothing activities. For more information about these skills as well as worksheets with
suggestions, see Distract and Self-soothe Worksheets. For skills for children, see
Distress Tolerance Worksheets for kids.
For more information about DBT see What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?
DBT Treatment works through acceptance of the following assumptions:
DBT helps individuals suffering from emotion dysregulation to develop a "life worth
living" by developing balanced cognitions, emotions and behaviors and by learning
the skills necessary to make effective decisions and choices.
To see if DBT would be helpful to you or someone you know or love, see the
handout, Is DBT for You or Someone You Know.
cognitive behavioral therapeutic approach and a Buddhist philosophy of acceptance
and living in the moment. The result is an empirically-based, structured protocol that
includes individual therapy, skills training groups, coaching in crisis (phone
consultation, case management etc) consultation team (for clinicians and other DBT
providers) and additional modes of therapy (that may include inpatient treatment,
psychopharmocology etc). Although originally designed to help individuals who are
self-injurious and/or suicidal, it is most effective for individuals with any form of
EMOTION DYSREGULATION and has been adapted for individuals of all ages with
different diagnoses.
DBT is
Supportive,
Behavioral,
Cognitive,
Skill Oriented,
Collaborative and
Balances Acceptance and Change
Dialectics refers to the ability to hold two truths that seem like opposites and accept
that they both may be true. It means that individuals work towards a synthesis and
away from rigid, polarized thinking. The Core Dialectic is that individuals are doing
the best they can AND individuals need to change.
Skills Training involves learning skills that increase:
- Mindfulness
- Emotion Regulation
- Distress Tolerance
- Interpersonal Effectiveness
- Balanced Parenting
DBT involves learning to accept oneself, to be actively present in the moment, to
accept life as it is, to do what is effective (what works, what moves an individual
towards his/her own goals) and to appreciate the moment.
DBT also promotes the use of Validation (Acceptance) and Non-judgmental language
as a way to acknowledge an understanding of the feelings and behaviors of another
person. Acceptance is balanced with the need for an individual to change and is
necessary for that change to occur. For an article about Validation and Non-
judgmental language, see the article, "Using Validation and Nonjudgmental Language
When Working With Children/Adolescents and Their Parents" by scrolling down the
PESI 0n-line newsletter, PESIconnect.
The Distress Tolerance Module teaches skills that help individuals get through crisis,
difficult or painful moments or situations without resorting to problematic behaviors.
Skills include learning to distract from painful emotions by engaging in pleasant or
soothing activities. For more information about these skills as well as worksheets with
suggestions, see Distract and Self-soothe Worksheets. For skills for children, see
Distress Tolerance Worksheets for kids.
For more information about DBT see What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?
DBT Treatment works through acceptance of the following assumptions:
- Individuals are doing the best they can.
- Individuals with emotion dysregulation and/or mental illness need to do better, try harder
and be more motivated to change. - Individuals with emotion dysregulation/mental illness want to improve.
- Individuals with emotion dyregualtion/mental illness may not have caused all of their own
problems but they have to solve them anyway. - The lives of suicidal and depressed individuals are unbearable at they are currently being
lived. - Individuals must learn new behaviors in all relevant contexts.
- Individuals should take things in a well meaning way and not assume the worst.
- There is no absolute truth.
DBT helps individuals suffering from emotion dysregulation to develop a "life worth
living" by developing balanced cognitions, emotions and behaviors and by learning
the skills necessary to make effective decisions and choices.
To see if DBT would be helpful to you or someone you know or love, see the
handout, Is DBT for You or Someone You Know.
For more information about DBT, see the website of the group that developed the
treatment:Distress Tolerance for Kids. Also see information from the National
Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder
treatment:Distress Tolerance for Kids. Also see information from the National
Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder
