Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy is one of the commonly used psychotherapeutic interventions in treating many mental health conditions and substance or non-substance addictions. Tailored to individual needs, the programme imparts valuable skills through its four core modules: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
If you are an individual who experiences difficulties in regulating emotions and maintaining healthy relationships with others, DBT might be the proper treatment for you. Read on and discover how Sivana Rehab utilises DBT to help countless individuals.
What is Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)?
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on increasing the abilities of individuals to cope with intense emotions in healthy ways, improving their relationships, and strengthening their ability to handle distress without losing control or acting destructively.
Although DBT was initially developed to treat Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and individuals with chronic suicidal behaviours, it has expanded its therapeutic applicability to suit a wide range of conditions and meet the unique needs of each individual.
The framework of DBT works incorporates a philosophical process called dialectics, which assumes that all things are interconnected, changes are constant and inevitable, and everything is composed of opposites. DBT therapists believe that these opposites can be integrated, and change occurs when there is a dialogue between these opposing forces. Specifically, the heart of DBT lies in ‘change and acceptance.’
When is DBT Used?
Over the past years, the clinical utility of DBT has widened. Nowadays, many professionals prefer it as a lone treatment or adjunct therapy for individuals who may be experiencing difficulties related to emotion regulation, impulsivity, and interpersonal relationships, particularly:
- Intense mood swings
- Hopelessness
- Emptiness
- Low confidence and self-esteem
- Unstable relationships
- Risk-taking or impulsive behaviours
- Self-harm, suicidal thoughts or behaviour
In addition, DBT has also demonstrated effectiveness in treating various mental conditions such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anger problems, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance addictions or behavioural addictions like gambling and internet gaming disorder.
What to Expect from DBT
DBT is a structured and goal-driven approach to psychotherapy that helps individuals cope with stress healthily, regulate emotions effectively, enhance interpersonal relationships, and live in the present moment.
Before beginning DBT treatment, the therapist conducts an assessment. This involves understanding the individual’s difficulties and present symptoms, which will become the basis for deciding whether DBT is the best treatment option.
Individuals may also expect engagement in mindfulness practice, as it is considered the foundational DBT skill. Considering that this therapy has solid educational components, the therapist teaches them behavioural skills to be applied daily. In addition, various homework related to practising newly acquired skills will be given.
DBT Core Skills
DBT therapists believe that a lack of skills to deal with stressors and distress is the leading cause of individuals’ problems. Hence, their difficulties can be resolved by teaching them behavioural skills to be used every day so they can have a healthy life. DBT therapists teach the following four modules.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness serves as the foundation of skills for DBT. It is considered a fundamental change component, emphasising enhancing awareness and empowering acceptance. Mindfulness helps the individual to stay in the present moment and lessen their focus on remembering painful past experiences and thinking about frightening possibilities in the future.
When individuals engage in mindfulness, they acknowledge their thoughts, feelings, behaviours, and sensations, allowing them to deal with the situation more effectively and without overreacting impulsively. The following mindfulness activities teach the individuals to become ‘present’ and to set the stage for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness:
- Observing: Developing mindfulness through observation of a single object
- Mindful Breathing: Helps to calm the mind from anxiety and uncomfortability
- Wise Mind: Helps to make that balance rational and emotional mind
Distress Tolerance
The distress tolerance module is an extension of mindfulness in DBT. It teaches individuals skills to deal effectively with distress and constant life stressors without resorting to self-harming or destructive behaviours. The skills training allows them to build resilience and develop new ways to reduce the impact of distressing circumstances. DBT therapists introduce new skills related to crisis survival, distraction, and self-soothing. Some of the exercises being employed in this module include:
- TIPP: Calm emotions with temperature, intense exercise, paced breathing, and progressive muscle relaxation
- Radical Acceptance: Learn how to become accepting of realities
- Grounding: Reconnecting with the present moment
Emotion Regulation
In this module, DBT therapists aim to help individuals identify the emotions that cause distress. Individuals observe their feelings without getting overwhelmed. The primary objective of this module is to understand what individuals feel and why they feel that way. This process leads to a reduction of emotional intensity, which could promote acceptance. One of the most commonly used skills in the emotion regulation module is the ABC PLEASE. It is an acronym for accumulating positive experiences, building mastery, coping, physical illness treatment, eating a balanced diet, avoiding non-prescription drugs, sleeping adequately, and exercising. In addition, some of the exercises that can be used in this module include:
- Self-Validation: Learn how to acknowledge and accept emotions
- Recognising Your Emotions: Identify primary and secondary emotions
- Emotion Exposure: Learn to be more comfortable in experiencing negative emotions
Interpersonal Effectiveness
The final module of DBT is interpersonal effectiveness, which builds on the foundation of mindfulness, distress tolerance, and emotion regulation skills. The skills taught here provide new ways of expressing the individual’s beliefs. It also helps them set boundaries and negotiate solutions to problems while protecting relationships and respecting others. The primary objective of this module is to create new relationships, maintain healthy connections with other people, and terminate unhealthy relationships. DBT therapist introduces DEAR MAN skills, FAST, and GIVE skills along with the following exercises:
- Communication Styles: Help to be mindful of how you typically communicate with others
- Barriers to Interpersonal Effectiveness: Learn to overcome the obstacles to adopt healthy ways of communicating with others
- Interpersonal Boundaries: Become aware and understand relational boundaries
Benefits of DBT Therapy
DBT is an effective approach to treating individuals with various conditions. Some of the critical benefits of this treatment include:
- DBT helps regulate emotions, reduce impulsivity, and improve mutual relationships.
- It is an evidence-based treatment with empirical support.
- It has solid educational components where individuals are taught various skills to deal with daily stressors and triggers.
- It can be used as a lone treatment or adjunct therapy for various mental health conditions.
- It can be effectively used as part of a comprehensive treatment programme for individuals with substance and behavioural addictions.
- Most individuals who undergo DBT treatment notice improvements after attending several sessions.
Get DBT Treatment at Sivana Rehab
Whether you have anxiety, depression, trauma, BPD, addictions or other conditions, choosing the appropriate treatment is a crucial step in the recovery process.
We understand you might have difficulties finding treatment that suits your needs, but know that Sivana Rehab is here to assist you. Our team of compassionate experts, including DBT practitioners, is more than willing to journey with you and help you reclaim wellness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Difference Between CBT and DBT?
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) differ in their approaches. CBT focuses on identifying and replacing irrational thoughts, while DBT emphasises awareness and acceptance of emotions. Both are evidence-based therapies teaching practical skills to manage stress and triggers.
How Long Will I Need DBT to Recover from a Mental Health Condition?
The exact duration of DBT largely depends on many factors, such as the nature of the illness, severity of symptoms, and your adherence or commitment to therapy sessions. However, many individuals notice improvements months after initiating DBT.
Can CBT and DBT be Used Together?
Absolutely. The combination of CBT and DBT is often used as part of the comprehensive treatment programme for individuals with mental health conditions and substance addictions.