| DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy), evolved out of | | | | which means it has been researched in clinical trials as |
| CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), developed by | | | | a valid therapy method. From a practical perspective, |
| Dr. Marsha M. Linehan. DBT was originally designed for | | | | the therapy involves individual therapy one time per |
| treating people with Borderline Personality Disorder | | | | week and a weekly DBT skills group. The skills group |
| (BPD). Now, many people enjoy the benefits of DBT. | | | | is 1 ½ hours long. The group members learn |
| DBT is also used for people with self-harm behaviors, | | | | mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotional |
| suicide thoughts, urges to suicide, and suicide | | | | regulation, and distress tolerance. The individual |
| attempts. It also helps with binge-eating, depression, | | | | therapist coordinated treatment with the facilitators |
| suicidal teens, and older clients who get depressed | | | | of the DBT skills group, to keep track of how the |
| again and again. | | | | treatment is going to help the client reach desired |
| DBT was originally designed for treating people with | | | | goals.From an intellectual perspective, there are major |
| Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Now, many | | | | things to learn, thought DBT involves much more. |
| people enjoy the benefits of DBT. DBT is also used | | | | Those with self-destructive behaviors, and those |
| for people with self-harm behaviors, suicide thoughts, | | | | with learned coping techniques for intense and |
| urges to suicide, and suicide attempts. It also helps | | | | negative emotions, such as guilt, shame, sadness, |
| with binge-eating, depression, suicidal teens, and older | | | | fear, and anger, feel the emotions much more |
| clients who get depressed again and again. The goal | | | | intensely than others may. For some, like those with |
| of the therapy is to create a "life worth living," such | | | | major depression or Generalized Anxiety Disorder |
| as what the client wants, for example, such as | | | | (GAD), the medications are not doing what is |
| finding a life partner, having children, going back to | | | | needed, so the client feels deep emotional |
| school, finding the right religion, or changing to a new | | | | suffering.The self-destructive behavior and learned |
| career. The therapy is based on changing behavior | | | | coping techniques can lead to emotional vulnerability. |
| that is based on thoughts. The balance between | | | | Life can feel unpredictable and all over the place |
| change and acceptance forms the fundamental | | | | when emotions are intense, quick, and difficult to |
| dialectic. Dialectics is from a Greek word, meaning a | | | | control. And, those with an invalidating environment, in |
| play of ideas bringing together opposites or apparent | | | | other words, other people are not treating the |
| contradictions and attempting to resolve them to | | | | person with respect, attention, and understanding, |
| give rise to a truth. Dialectics is about the | | | | can feel emotional vulnerability.The therapy moves |
| reconciliation of opposites in an ongoing process of | | | | through stages: First, the client moves from being out |
| synthesis. For example, what is a thought versus | | | | of control of one's behavior to being in control. |
| reality in the here and now? It's about thoughts | | | | Second, the client moves from being emotionally shut |
| coming together in balance. The process flows from | | | | down to experiencing emotions fully. Third, the client |
| the balancing of Zen (Eastern) practice with | | | | builds and ordinary life, solving ordinary life problems. |
| psychological (Western) practice. It blends validation | | | | Fourth, the client moves from incompleteness to |
| of thoughts into the patient's wisdom to create the | | | | completeness and connection. |
| behavior.DBT is an "empirically-supported treatment," | | | | |