Skills-based Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of therapy that combines elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with mindfulness techniques. Originally developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan to treat individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD), it has since been adapted to address a range of mental health issues, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and substance use disorders. Our approach to DBT (and CBT) focuses on an active skills-based method.
We offer in-person and virtual appointments for those in Montana. If you live outside our area or cannot travel – our team is licensed to treat anyone in Montana.
Skills-based DBT focuses on teaching individuals specific coping skills to manage their emotions, improve relationships, and deal with distressing situations effectively. These skills are typically divided into four skills-based modules teaching emotional and behavioral regulation. The four skills are:
- Mindfulness
- Interpersonal effectiveness
- Distress tolerance
- Emotion regulation
Each of these modules work together to help develop physical, emotional, and cognitive awareness to achieve emotional regulation.
- Mindfulness is the cornerstone of DBT, teaching non-judgmental awareness of the present moment. This skill is essential in helping patients understand and accept their emotions, leading to greater self-control and well-being.
- Interpersonal effectiveness equips individuals with strategies to discover and explain their needs and manage conflicts in relationships. Managing relationships is vital for individuals who experience intense emotions.
- Distress tolerance is geared toward increasing a person’s tolerance of negative emotion, rather than trying to escape from it. This component of DBT emphasizes learning to tolerate pain skillfully through techniques such as distraction, self-soothing, and improving the moment. It is particularly beneficial for individuals who might otherwise react to emotional pain with self-destructive behaviors.
- Emotion regulation is designed to identify and develop strategies to manage emotions that are causing distress in a person’s life.
DBT is structured in such a way that it requires a multifaceted approach to treatment. This typically includes individual therapy sessions, during which the therapist and patient work towards improving harmful behaviors. Group therapy sessions are also a key component of DBT, involving skills training that helps patients learn and practice behaviors related to the four skills modules. This comprehensive approach ensures that the therapeutic strategies are reinforced and applied across different settings, contributing to the overall effectiveness of the therapy.
In summary, DBT’s strength lies in its ability to provide a structured, yet flexible, treatment adapted to the needs of individuals struggling with a spectrum of psychological issues. By focusing on the truth of acceptance and change, DBT helps patients discover new ways to manage distressing emotions and improve their relationships. Our goal is for our patients to develop skills that provide lasting improvement and a better quality of life.