DBT: What is it and how is it used?

Types of Psychotherapy Methods (DBT vs ACT) Used To Treat Depression -  Promises Healthcare

DBT stands for Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and it’s an evidence-based therapy that has been proven effective in helping people with Borderline Personality Disorder and other mental health issues. So, what exactly is DBT? And how does it work? First, let’s start with what Borderline Personality Disorder is, and then we’ll move onto DBT and why it’s effective in treating this disorder.

What is Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)?

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, or DBT, is a form of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy that aims to help people with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) better understand their mood swings. It’s one of the most widely-used treatment methods for Borderline Personality Disorder. It helps people with BPD manage intense emotions by looking at these emotions as a dialectic, or two opposing forces in a continual struggle. In this dialectic, emotional stability–represented by the concept of acceptance–can only be achieved when both emotional acceptance and radical acceptance are present together. Emotional stability includes an acceptance of fear, anger, sadness, shame–everything from happiness to sorrow.

The Three Components of DBT

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a type of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) that was first created by Marsha Linehan in the 1980s to help treat people who have a history of trauma, suffer from borderline personality disorder, or are otherwise going through major life changes. It’s an empirically validated treatment with more than 30 years of clinical trial support. To understand what DBT entails, it helps to know the three main components that make up this therapeutic approach. The three primary goals of DBT are identifying self-destructive behaviours, teaching skills to maintain emotional stability, and improving important life functions for living a quality life.

Where Can I Go For Help

Are you living with BPD or an anxiety disorder, such as GAD, OCD, PTSD, or generalised anxiety disorder? Have you experienced multiple trauma over the course of your life – either ongoing trauma (ex. abuse) or one time traumatic events (ex. a car accident)? If so, you may have also been diagnosed with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), borderline personality disorder (BPD), generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), or social anxiety disorder (SAD). DBT is a form of psychotherapy that can help treat these disorders in adults, adolescents, and children. It’s based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) but with some modifications to address the unique needs of people who suffer from borderline personality disorder and other mental health issues like PTSD, OCD, SAD, etc.

How Can I Use This Information to Help Me and Others?

In psychotherapy, DBT helps patients find ways to function more effectively in their lives. The goal of DBT for self-harmers is to work towards bringing mindful awareness to life-threatening situations without the need for additional pain or injury. For people who are considering suicide, DBT therapy could help provide coping skills that prevent a downward spiral into self-destruction.  While they’re still living, these individuals will not only be alive but also more aware and engaged with the world around them.  Suicide is often preceded by months of planning, which can make it difficult to spot the warning signs. A sudden change in behaviour could indicate someone is suicidal and needs help right away. Someone might talk about wanting to die; give away prized possessions; have trouble sleeping; suffer from aches and pains with no known cause; withdraw from social activities; or show signs of depression (e.g., lack of energy, loss of interest).