Overview
What is dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)?
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a type of talk therapy (psychotherapy). It’s based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), but it’s specially adapted for people who experience emotions very intensely.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of talk therapy that helps people understand how thoughts affect emotions and behaviors.
“Dialectical” means combining opposite ideas. DBT focuses on helping people accept the reality of their lives and their behaviors, as well as helping them learn to change their lives, including their unhelpful behaviors.
Dialectical behavior therapy was developed in the 1970s by Marsha Linehan, an American psychologist.
What is dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) used for?
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is especially effective for people who have difficulty managing and regulating their emotions.
DBT has proven to be effective for treating and managing a wide range of mental health conditions, including:
- Borderline personality disorder (BPD).
- Self-harm.
- Suicidal behavior.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Substance use disorder.
- Eating disorders, specifically binge eating disorder and bulimia.
- Depression.
- Anxiety.
It’s important to note that the reason DBT has proved effective for treating these conditions is that each of these conditions is thought to be associated with issues that result from unhealthy or problematic efforts to control intense, negative emotions. Rather than depending on efforts that cause problems for the person, DBT helps people learn healthier ways to cope.
How do I find a DBT therapist?
A therapist can be a psychiatrist (a medical doctor who can prescribe medications), psychiatric nurse, psychologist, social worker or family therapist.
Finding the right therapist is often a time-consuming task, and DBT therapy isn’t any different. Try not to become discouraged. Talk to people you trust to give you a referral for a therapist who uses dialectical behavior therapy, whether it’s your primary healthcare provider or a friend or family member.
You can also search for therapists online through local and state psychological associations.
Be sure that any therapist you’re interested in seeing is a state-certified and licensed mental health professional and that they treat your area of concern (for example, eating disorders, borderline personality disorder, self-harm, etc.).
Most therapists’ websites list the conditions and problems they treat. If you have questions, call or email the therapist’s office before you choose.
It may be helpful to ask a potential DBT therapist the following questions:
- What is the nature of your training in DBT?
- Do you provide comprehensive DBT or a modification? If not comprehensive DBT, why not?
- Do you belong to a DBT consultation team?
- What’s your policy on phone calls and emails during the week?
- How much time will you initially ask me to commit to for the entire therapy process?
Procedure Details
How does dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) work?
The main goal of therapists who use dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is to strike a balance between validation (acceptance) of who you are and your challenges and the benefits of change. Your therapist will help you learn new skills to improve emotion regulation.
The structure of dialectical behavior therapy can vary some from therapist to therapist, but, in general, DBT involves these four types of sessions:
- DBT pre-assessment.
- Individual therapy.
- Skills training in groups.
- Telephone crisis coaching.
DBT pre-assessment
Your therapist may offer an assessment before starting DBT. They’ll determine how suitable DBT is for you by asking you questions and explaining how DBT works. If you decide that DBT is the right therapy for you, they’ll ask you to commit to the treatment and the length of treatment.
Individual DBT therapy
Individual DBT therapy involves weekly sessions with your therapist. Each session lasts about 40 minutes to 60 minutes.
Individual DBT therapy sessions have the following goals:
- To help keep you safe by reducing suicidal and self-harming behaviors, if applicable.
- To limit behaviors that get in the way of productive therapy.
- To help you reach your goals and improve your quality of life by addressing what’s blocking your progress, such as mental health conditions or relationship issues.
- To help you learn new skills to replace unhelpful behaviors.
Your therapist will likely ask you to keep a diary to track your emotions and actions and to look for patterns of behavior. You’ll bring this diary with you to your sessions so you and your therapist can decide what to work on for each session.
DBT skills training in groups
In these sessions, your therapist will teach you skills in a group setting. This isn’t to be confused with group therapy, in which you discuss your problems with others. Think of it more like a teaching and learning session in a classroom setting.
DBT skills aim to help enhance your capabilities in day-to-day life. The four skills your therapist will teach include:
- Mindfulness: This is the practice of being fully aware and focused in the present instead of worrying about the past or future.
- Distress tolerance: This involves understanding and managing your emotions in difficult or stressful situations without responding with harmful behaviors.
- Interpersonal effectiveness: This means understanding how to ask for what you want and need and setting boundaries while maintaining respect for yourself and others.
- Emotion regulation: This means understanding, being more aware of and having more control over your emotions.
Telephone crisis coaching
DBT often involves telephone crisis coaching to support you in your daily life. This means you can call your therapist at certain times for support between sessions.
Examples of when you may need to call your therapist include:
- When you need help with an immediate crisis, such as wanting to self-harm.
- When you’re trying to use the DBT skills you learned but want some advice on how to do it.
However, your therapist will set clear boundaries about when you can call them, such as during an agreed-upon range of time during the day.
Crisis coaching functions on an as-needed basis. The calls are usually brief, and they shouldn’t replace the work of individual or group sessions.
Risks / Benefits
What are the benefits and risks of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)?
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) has been proven to help people with their mental health conditions in several studies. For people with borderline personality disorder, in particular, DBT results in:
- Less self-harm behavior and anger.
- Fewer days of inpatient hospitalization.
- Less drug and alcohol misuse.
- Improved depressive symptoms.
However, DBT isn’t for everyone, and it can be very difficult. DBT is more likely to work for you if you:
- Are committed to making positive changes.
- Are ready to fully commit to therapy and do homework assignments.
- Are ready to focus mostly on your present and future, rather than your past.
- Feel able to do some sessions in a group with others.
Recovery and Outlook
How long will I need dialectical behavior therapy?
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) usually takes at least six months to a year. However, each person is unique, and mental health conditions are complex. You shouldn’t expect to be completely free of symptoms or no longer have problematic behaviors after one year of DBT.
Many therapists believe that the treatment for borderline personality disorder, in particular, can often take several years.
Try not to get discouraged by how long it may take to be able to better manage your emotions and have a better quality of life. The important thing is that you’re seeking help. Any progress is good progress.
When to Call the Doctor
When should I see my healthcare provider or therapist while doing DBT?
It’s important to go to all of your scheduled individual DBT therapy sessions and group skill training sessions.
If you’re experiencing a crisis, such as feeling suicidal, and can call your therapist, do so.
If your therapist is unavailable, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1.800.273.8255. Someone will be available to talk with you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is an effective treatment to help people who experience very intense, negative emotions. Although it may be difficult and time-consuming to find the right DBT therapist for you, it’s important to keep trying. The sooner you can start therapy — and stay committed to it — the sooner you’ll have an improved quality of life.
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is a very effective form of therapy that helps individuals learn the skills and strategies needed for a life worth living. It was originally developed as a method of treating people who were struggling with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) who had suicidal tendencies or self-harming behaviors.
DBT is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which strives to identify negative or ineffective thinking patterns so a person can work toward change. It’s called “dialectical” because it uses the seemingly opposing concepts of acceptance and change and the belief that using both ideas together is better than using either alone.
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Mental Health Issues That Can Be Improved with DBT
Borderline personality disorder is an example of a mental illness that can be very difficult to treat. It can be even more difficult to treat BPD when it is diagnosed along with other conditions, such as substance use disorder, bipolar disorder, or depression. Other conditions that may be improved with DBT include:
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Eating disorders
- Substance abuse and addictive behaviors
- Self-harming behavior
- Suicidal urges
- Treatment resistant major depression
DBT has been found to be helpful for treating many different conditions that involve difficulty regulating emotions, as well as unstable relationships or impulsive behaviors. DBT can bring about improvement for people who have complex and severe disorders that may seem hopeless and usually resist treatment. Evidence that DBT is helpful is seen in reduced suicidal behavior, reduced hospital visits and inpatient stays, improved social functioning and in being less likely to drop out of treatment.
Why DBT Works
Many of the problems that mentally ill people struggle with are related to the fact that there are skills deficits. For example, people with BPD don’t have the skills they need to regulate their emotions or to stop periods of intense anger or excessively negative thinking. Those who cope with volatile emotions by turning to substances or to binge eating need to learn new coping skills to interrupt the pattern of these self-destructive behaviors.
DBT works better than other treatment approaches for some people because it is so structured. The approach to treatment is based on the severity of the individual’s distress, and the mental health professional can plan a treatment program based on stages of treatment as follows:
- Stage 1 – The person is very distressed and experiencing self-destructive, self-harming or suicidal behavior, and emotions are extremely out of control. The focus of this stage is getting behavioral control.
- Stage 2 – Behavior is under control, but there is still a lot of emotional pain. Past trauma needs to be addressed at this point and unhealthy thinking patterns identified.
- Stage 3 – Goals are set, new skills are being learned and the focus is on improved relationships and self-esteem.
- Stage 4 – In this stage, the person moves toward joy and healthier relationships. For some people, this includes finding a deeper meaning through spiritual experiences. The goal of this stage is to move past any sense of incompleteness.
Committed to a Life Worth Living
With DBT, life skills are learned and enhanced, which include mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness. Getting past the challenges of ineffective thinking patterns and emotional extremes requires being truly committed to changing behaviors that are clearly not working. This is done using an intense, structured program that includes both individual and group therapy as well as remaining in contact with the DBT therapist whenever needed.
During DBT treatment, a person will be expected to do homework and practice new skills, which includes tracking emotions and behaviors. The amount of focus and effort required can ultimately lead to true transformation. When a person is ready to change and truly committed to a life work living, DBT can be a very effective form of treatment.
For more information about our DBT treatment programs in Los Angeles, call (310) 455-5258 or submit the form below and a treatment advisor will contact you.
