What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)?

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Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is designed for individuals who feel overwhelmed by their emotions, often leading to self-destructive behaviors and strained interpersonal relationships. Through a combination of skills training, individual therapy, phone coaching, and consultation teams, DBT empowers clients to experience significant reductions in psychiatric symptoms, enhanced emotional regulation, and a greater sense of control over their lives.

 

Stages of DBT Treatment

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Stage 1: Building Behavioral Control
In the initial stage of DBT, clients, with the support of their therapists, focus on addressing life-threatening behaviors (such as suicidality and self-harm), therapy-interfering behaviors (like missed appointments or avoidance of therapeutic topics), and quality of life behaviors (including eating disorders, addictive behaviors, and interpersonal challenges). The goal is to help clients gain behavioral control through learning and practicing new coping strategies during skills training.

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Stage 2: Healing from Trauma
As clients progress, they may gain control over self-destructive behaviors but continue to experience emotional pain, often stemming from unresolved traumas and PTSD. This stage aims to help clients process their past experiences, fostering healing and resilience as they move forward.

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Stage 3: Aligning with Personal Values
In the third stage, clients typically feel more secure in their behavioral control. This phase focuses on helping clients identify and align with their personal values and aspirations, enabling them to set meaningful goals. Clients learn to navigate life's ups and downs while enhancing their sense of self-respect and fulfillment.

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Stage 4: Building a Life Worth Living
In the final stage of DBT, clients work on cultivating a sense of connectedness and wholeness with the world around them. This stage is about increasing the capacity to experience joy and satisfaction, ultimately allowing clients to "build a life worth living."

 

DBT Skills Training

Throughout the course of DBT skills training—whether in a group or individual setting—clients learn essential skills, including:

• Mindfulness practices

• Emotion regulation techniques

• Distress tolerance strategies

• Interpersonal effectiveness

• Dialectical thinking​

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Efficacy of DBT Treatment

DBT has consistently demonstrated remarkable effectiveness, including:

• A 73% reduction in psychiatric hospitalizations

• A 50% decrease in suicide attempts

• An annual savings of over $8,000 in mental health costs (Linehan, 2002-2018).