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What is DBT?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy developed for individuals who are chronically suicidal or self-harming. Initially researched as a treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder, DBT has been extensively researched in the intervening decades and has been found to be an effective treatment for many different presenting problems. DBT appears to be most useful for problems created by difficulties regulating emotions.

The aim of this treatment is not suicide prevention. DBT therapists work with their clients to help them create lives they experience as worth living. As DBT therapists we assume that our clients are doing the best they can and are still suffering. We take on the task of helping our clients identify the things that would help them experience their lives as worth living, and help them figure out what is in the way. Once the obstacles are identified, the client and therapist work together to help the client learn and practice the skills needed to bring a life they would be happy to live within reach.

This treatment includes 4 components that comprise a comprehensive treatment. These components help address the client’s motivation for treatment, helping clients acquire the needed skills, practice those skills in a variety of contexts, and help keep the therapist motivated and providing treatment that is adherent to the principles of the treatment model.

This series of videos linked below is part of the online course I helped develop and explains a bit more about DBT. It is targeted toward treatment providers who would like to provide DBT and may also be useful for potential consumers of the treatment. You will see me speaking in the first and last videos.

https://behavioraltech.org/resources/faqs/dialectical-behavior-therapy-dbt/