About DBT
DBT is an evidenced-based treatment that focuses on gaining control of one’s emotions and the accompanying behaviors.
Treatment
Research has demonstrated that DBT is effective at treating:
- Borderline personality disorder in adolescents and adults
- Self-harming and suicidal behavior
- Emotion dysregulation including, depression, anxiety and anger
- Substance abuse
- Eating disorders
Three Foundations of DBT
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the foundation of many empirically supported treatments. CBT is a change based treatment approach which examines the connection between thoughts, feelings and behaviors.
Mindfulness involves being fully attentive to the current moment without judgment. Mindfulness is the core skill as it is woven into all other DBT skills. It helps clients better manage their emotions, behaviors and relationships.
Dialectics is the idea that two polar opposite ideas can be true at the same time. The primary dialectic within DBT is acceptance and change. All DBT strategies function to maintain the idea that clients are doing the best they can and at the same time, need to do better.
