Updated on 4/13/2022

Originally developed to treatborderline personality disorder, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT therapy) is a type ofcognitive-behavioral psychotherapy— or talk therapy — used to treat a range of mental health disorders. DBT treatment relies on the psychosocial aspects of individual therapy and tries to identify and change negative thinking patterns through a focus on building positive behavioral skills. Before consideringdialectical behavior therapy, it is important to understand how it works and who can benefit from this treatment method, as it may not be the best option for everyone.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy OnlineYour DPT therapist will help you develop the tools to manage your emotions in difficult situationsLearn more

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy OnlineYour DPT therapist will help you develop the tools to manage your emotions in difficult situations

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Online

Your DPT therapist will help you develop the tools to manage your emotions in difficult situations

Learn more

How Does Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Work?

DBT focuses on helping individuals with incredibly negative emotions that are difficult to manage, therefore therapists trained in dialectical behavioral therapy work to help their clients find and achieve emotional balance. Sessions are focused on helping a person develop an ability to hold multiple perspectives at once, helping to reduce the all-or-nothing styles of thinking that can lead to an extremely negative and hopeless outlook. The focus of DBT treatment remains on promoting acceptance and positive change through four main strategies:

“Focusing on the present moment is challenging for many people. But, carving out the space and time to be mindful, shifting our focus either towards our breath or neutral objects in our surrounding environments, and learning that we have the ability to control our thoughts, can be hugely empowering during our therapeutic journeys.”

Types of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

There are two primary types of DBT: individual treatment and skills group.

Individual treatment

This form of treatment consists of one-on-one contact with a licensed and trained therapist and helps ensure that the client’s specific needs are being met over a set period of time. A DBT therapist will help a patient stay motivated, apply dialectical behavioral therapy skills to situations happening in their daily life, and address issues that arise over the course of treatment. Individual treatment generally takes place over the course of a year.

Skills group treatment

In either context, this form of group therapy follows a consistent,four-stage approachto driving change. First, therapists zero in on the most self-destructive behavior, such as self-harm, while gradually addressing quality-of-life skills such as emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. At this point, a focus on improvedrelationshipsandself-esteemis brought into view. The final stage of DBT centers on promoting joy and connection to cap off treatment phases.

Does Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Work?

DBT isprovento significantly decrease suicide-related outcomes, psychiatric hospitalizations, use of emergency services, treatment discontinuation, depression, and substance use, while increasing social functioning.Researchalso shows this form of treatment can successfully treat people experiencing depression, bulimia, binge-eating, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Additionally, the American Psychiatric Association endorsed DBT as an effective treatment method, with those who seek treatment experiencing the following improvements:

Getting Started with Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

As such, it is important to find a therapist who has experience in each of the four stages of treatment because, when done properly, this treatment method is proven to have a lasting impact and decrease emotional distress. For many, dialectical behavioral therapy is a light at the end of the tunnel. Turn to Talkspace foronline therapysolutions that can get you the help you need.

Our goal at Talkspace is to provide the most up-to-date, valuable, and objective information on mental health-related topics in order to help readers make informed decisions.

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