Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and DBT Skills Group
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a specialized form of cognitive-behavioral therapy designed to help adults, adolescents and their families better manage their emotions, behaviors, and relationships. DBT balances a validating and change-oriented approach. Validation consists of the therapist validating the client’s thoughts or actions in the context of the client’s personal experience. DBT is effective for people who are having difficulty with CBT due to emotion dysregulation. Treatment also includes coaching between sessions to work through a crisis.
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DBT focuses on problem solving and skills building in the following areas:
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Mindfulness – Teaches one how to focus their mind and attention in order to observe experiences as they are in a non-judgmental way (good, bad)
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Distress Tolerance – Assists in developing acceptance of the current situation as well crisis survival skills to decrease the likelihood in engaging in problematic behavior (self- harm, unhealth relationship)
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Emotion Regulation – Skills to identify and label emotions, identifying obstacles to changing emotions, reducing emotional reactivity, and increasing positive emotions.
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Interpersonal Effectiveness – Strategies for asking for what one needs, setting healthy boundaries and coping with interpersonal conflict.
DBT is proven to help people who experience difficulty regulating emotions, thoughts and behavior; problems with maintaining consistent relationships; anger; chronic suicidal thoughts; self-injurious behavior; behavioral impulsivity; eating disorders; depression; anxiety, PTSD and substance use. DBT leads to improved relationships and a greater ability to self-manage difficult emotions. Clients can better define life goals, build self-respect, and find peace and happiness. Adolescents can improve family relationships and find greater success in school and with peer relationships.
DBT skills group is an important competent of DBT treatment. The main purpose of the group is DBT skills acquisition. Groups start with a mindfulness exercise, followed by teaching new skills. Then there is an opportunity to practice the skills and members learn how their peers incorporate these skills in their lives.