Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

Name: Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Creator: Dr Becky Spelman
Published: August 27, 2024

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Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

by Dr Becky Spelman on August 27, 2024

What is dialectical behavioural therapy?

Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) is an innovative form of cognitive-behavioural therapy developed by Dr Marsha Linehan. Originally designed to treat Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), DBT empowers individuals to replace unhelpful behavioural patterns with more adaptive ones. With a focus on understanding emotional triggers that can lead to destructive behaviours and thoughts, DBT provides practical skills and strategies to help individuals build emotional resilience, and has proven to be highly effective, even for patients who have struggled with treatment in the past, or those who may initially resist seeking help.

DBT recognizes that life can be stressful, and some circumstances may be beyond our control. However, it teaches individuals how to tolerate difficult emotions and develop more helpful ways of thinking. Additionally, DBT promotes a holistic approach to health, encouraging individuals to create a lifestyle that supports both physical and psychological well-being.
What is it helpful for?
DBT is beneficial for those suffering from BPD, as well as a range of mental health issues including:
- Self harm
- Depression
- Suicidal ideation
- Eating disorders
- Substance use issues
- Personality disorders
- Anxiety
How does it work?
DBT consists of four modules for guiding treatment. These modules are:
- Mindfulness: Promoting a sense of calm and focus on being in the present moment, instead of dwelling on the past or future. This can include mindfulness exercises such as meditation or breath work.
- Distress tolerance: Learning new techniques to manage overwhelming emotions, without resorting to harmful or life-threatening behaviours.
- Interpersonal effectiveness: Promoting confidence in social interactions, and developing healthy assertiveness skills.
- Emotion regulation: Skills in identifying and understanding emotions, whilst learning how to manage them more effectively.
Individual DBT therapy
Individual therapy sessions in DBT typically involve weekly 50 minute sessions with a therapist, with a hierarchy of goals to guide the therapy process:
- The first goal is to ensure your safety by reducing suicidal or self-harming behaviours.
- The second goal is to address any behaviours that may interfere with therapy, such as boundaries or practical aspects (e.g. showing up to sessions on time).
- The third goal is to overcome obstacles which prevent goal achievement, and may include addressing core mental health issues, or practical challenges, such as employment or housing.
- The fourth goal is to equip you with new skills to replace unhelpful behaviours and facilitate progress towards your goals.
To track progress towards these goals, your therapist may ask you to complete a diary as homework and bring them to each session. This allows you to monitor your emotions and actions, identify patterns and triggers in your life, and use this information to guide treatment.
Our DBT crisis service

We’ve introduced a new service that aims to assist people dealing with suicidal thoughts. Through this service, our aim is to provide people with useful techniques for handling intense negative emotions that could trigger suicidal thoughts or intentions. Our approach relies mainly on the Distress Tolerance module of DBT, which gives individuals the means to handle and regulate emotions productively. In doing so, we also expect to reduce the number of emergency room admissions caused by these suicidal thoughts.
How do I book?

If you would like to talk to someone about DBT, please get in touch with the Private Therapy Clinic on Whatsapp message at: +447511116565, email, chat bot or book online to arrange an appointment.
References

Linehan, M., M., (2014). DBT Training Manual. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.