Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Is DBT good for me ?

Many different behavioral therapy was create in the past decades. DBT seem to be one of the best in particular issues and is not so far from already known cognitive approaches like CBT.

Who can be beneficial with DBT.

• Self harm & suicide reduction
• Depression & Anxiety
• Eating disorder
• Substances abuse
• Anger & Challenging Behavior

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) is to help clients to cope with dysfunctional emotions and teach how to succeed conflict in relationships. In 1980 Marsha Linehan created a new approach, which is an evidence-based treatment and formerly was directed for a woman who suffer with borderline personality disorder (BPD) in short, also known as Emotional Instability Disorder. However, research shows that DBT was successful with a mindfulness technique for individuals who suffer from depression, anxiety, eating disorders, substance abuse and other psychological disorder (Chapman 2006). Today it is very well-practiced to help self-harming and suicidal clients (Dimeff & Linehan, 2001).

Between 1970 & 1980 traditional CBT did not bring a satisfactory outcome for the aforementioned mental problems. DBT therapy is designated for people with more challenging behaviour and emotional states; who react to situations in a way that others do not and more excessively than others do. That therapy is useful in other treatments of addiction, anger, depression, and other difficulties in social interactions. (Bohlinger, 2013). 

DBT in practice.

To understand the DBT process is to see a situation which person has two opposite thoughts which are possibly realistic at the same time.

For instance, a client suffers for particular ache but is not willing to change. Another case is when a client needs help but cannot accept support. During the counselling process the client can, together with therapist, find more optional and realistic way of thinking. In each specific case there is usually more than one resolution. DBT teaches important skills which can reduce a negative emotion and help clients to learn how to cope with new emotional stability.

DBT is an assortment of behaviour-based therapy enriched with the addition of mindfulness and acceptance-based philosophy and practice, which are great equivalents of CBT theory and practice.