Dialectical means trying to understand how two things that seem opposite could both be true. For example, accepting yourself and your challenges and working towards changing unhealthy behaviours. DBT therapy will help you understand and accept intense emotions, learn skills to manage them and will help you make positive changes to live a life worth living.

 

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a specific type of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan for Borderline Personality Disorder. However, DBT is now commonly used for other mental health concerns. DBT provides clients with new skills to manage suicidal thoughts, self-harming behaviours, intense emotions, impulsive behaviours and decrease conflict in relationships.

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DBT focuses on providing therapeutic skills in four key areas: 
 

1) Mindfulness: Focuses on being in the present moment and accepting/acknowledging reality as it is. 

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2) Emotion Regulation: Focuses on managing intense emotions that causes impulsive behaviours.

 

3) Interpersonal Effectiveness: Focuses on assertive communication in a way that maintains self-respect and strengthens relationships. 

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4) Distress Tolerance: Focuses on increasing tolerance to manage crisis situations and painful emotions.