What is Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)?
Dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) is a psychological treatment developed by Prof. Marsha M. Linehan, a psychology researcher originally from the University of Washington, to treat persons with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). DBT combines standard cognitive-behavioural techniques for emotion regulation and reality testing with concepts of mindful awareness, distress tolerance, and acceptance strategies largely derived from meditative practice.
What are the benefits of DBT?
DBT emphasizes learning the skills of:
- tolerating and surviving a crisis
- accepting life as it is in the moment
- meeting pain head on to actually reduce suffering
DBT help you to:
- identify and label emotions, thus increasing your “emotional vocabulary”
- identify obstacles to changing your emotions
- reduce vulnerability to negative emotions
- enhance positive emotional events
Remember no-one is the same. Each of us react or act to circumstances differently and different techniques and approaches may be used to obtain the best result for your particular circumstances or needs.