Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) is an approach centered around empowering individuals to manage intense emotions and relationship difficulties. DBT encourages individuals to understand the inherent variation of human emotions as a natural fact of life.
DBT is built upon two foundational goals: acceptance and change. Acceptance encourages individuals to recognize that their emotions and subsequent behaviours are valid responses to their environment. Through this acceptance, individuals are encouraged to recognize their role as active agents in implementing change to manage their emotions and achieve their desired wellness goals.
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) Areas of Focus:
Mindfulness: A key focus of DBT is to help individuals develop a strong ability to remain keenly aware of the present moment. This entails that individuals accept and actively observe how their emotions fluctuate. Mindfulness allows individuals to gain an insight into what produces various emotional states while also understanding that these emotional states do not control an individual as a whole.
Distress Tolerance: DBT encourages individuals to develop a tolerance for negative emotions. Rather than searching for immediate and drastic solutions to stressful situations, DBT allows individuals to accept the negative occurrences in their lives and focus on healthy ways of coping with the emotions associated with them.
Emotion Regulation: DBT promotes the development of effective and highly tailored coping strategies for distressing emotions. This allows individuals to understand how their behaviours do not have to simply be a product of their current mood.
Interpersonal Effectiveness: DBT motivates individuals to practice assertiveness and a healthy self-respect in their personal relationships. This encourages individuals to be clear with others about their needs in a manner that is understandable and non-confrontational.
How DBT can Improve your Well-being
DBT is an evidence-based practice with significant data suggesting its effectiveness in helping individuals accept and manage difficult emotions and relationships.
Who Can Benefit from DBT
DBT can help you navigate challenges such as:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Personal Addictions
- Eating Disorders
- Borderline Personality Disorder
- Bipolar Disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Suicidal Ideation, Behaviour, and Self-harm
DBT Approach Dynamic
Early sessions with a DBT specialist are heavily focused on the development of unique skills which promote mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Following skills training, DBT sessions consist of one-on-one psychotherapy in which you and your therapist will work together to apply the skills you have learned to your current life challenges. This stage of DBT encourages clients and clinicians to collaboratively establish and monitor specific goals as the sessions progress. The goal of these sessions is to empower clients to independently implement these skills in their day-to-day life. This motivates individuals to continue the development of their skills and gives them the self-efficacy and confidence required to achieve their wellness goals.