DBT® Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets

01What's Dialectical Behavior Therapy all about?

Ever felt like you're on an emotional rollercoaster, with your feelings taking you on a wild ride? Or maybe you've found yourself in a situation where you're not sure how to handle a difficult person or situation. If so, you're not alone. Many people struggle with these issues, and that's where Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) comes in. DBT is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy, a form of treatment that helps people understand and change thought patterns that lead to harmful behaviors or feelings. But DBT isn't just any cognitive-behavioral therapy. It's a unique blend that combines traditional cognitive-behavioral techniques with concepts from Buddhist meditative practices. This mix allows DBT to treat a variety of mental health disorders, from borderline personality disorder to eating disorders and more. The brainchild of psychologist Marsha M. Linehan, DBT was initially developed to help individuals with borderline personality disorder who were chronically suicidal. Over time, however, it has evolved and is now used to treat a wide range of other mental health conditions. At the heart of DBT are its core principles. The first is the concept of dialectics, which is the idea that two opposing truths can exist at the same time. For example, you can both love and hate someone at the same time. The second principle is the four sets of behavioral skills: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. These skills are the tools that DBT provides to help individuals manage their emotions and navigate their relationships. Let's take a closer look at how these principles work together. Imagine you're in a heated argument with a friend. Your emotions are running high, and you're not sure how to respond. With DBT, you would use mindfulness to stay present and focused, distress tolerance to accept and tolerate the situation, emotion regulation to manage your feelings, and interpersonal effectiveness to communicate your needs effectively. DBT has proven to be highly effective in treating mental health disorders. For instance, it has been shown to significantly reduce suicidal behavior in individuals with borderline personality disorder. But it's not just limited to this disorder. DBT is also used to treat other mental health conditions, helping patients develop new skills to manage painful emotions and decrease conflict in relationships. A key part of DBT is the role of mindfulness and acceptance. Mindfulness is about being fully present and engaged in the here and now, while acceptance is about acknowledging and accepting reality as it is, without judgment. These two concepts work together in DBT to help individuals cope with difficult situations and reduce suffering. In conclusion, DBT is a powerful tool in the treatment of mental health disorders. Its unique blend of cognitive-behavioral techniques and Buddhist meditative practices, along with its core principles of dialectics and behavioral skills, make it an effective treatment for a variety of conditions. So, whether you're on an emotional rollercoaster or dealing with a difficult situation, remember that DBT might just be the tool you need to navigate your way through.