DBT focuses on teaching people skills to manage intense emotions, cope with challenging situations, and improve their relationships. It encourages people to learn and use mindfulness skills in practical ways. DBT has a proven track record for addressing the most debilitating symptoms of borderline personality disorder: self-injury and suicide threats or attempts. It is now used to treat depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, and substance use disorders. In fact, anyone who wants to learn to better manage strong emotions can benefit from DBT.
A central tenet of DBT is validation. Validation is a process of acknowledging that a person’s thoughts and emotions make sense, given who they are and their experiences. The core concept of DBT is dialectics, which refers to the idea that two opposite things can be true at the same time. Rather than viewing things in extremes of black and white, DBT encourages people to recognize there is more than one way to view a situation and to look for the middle ground.
DBT Teaches
skills
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Distress tolerance - The ability to manage emotional distress in the moment, using techniques such as distraction.
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Emotion regulation - Recognising, accepting, and managing intense emotions.
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Interpersonal effectiveness - Improving communication with other people to strengthen relationships and improve self-esteem.