1. East Meets West in Therapy
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), a form of psychotherapy, was developed by psychologist Marsh M. Linehan for the treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder. One Linehan innovation lies in the combination of traditional Western cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness techniques from Eastern meditation practices. DBT uses both individual and group therapy to help participants learn skills to cope with distressing emotions and regulate self-destructive behaviors.
2. Touch Your Emotions
People with Borderline Personality Disorder struggle with identifying their feelings and coping effectively when experiencing strong negative emotions like anger. They may engage in self-harm behaviors like cutting their skin, substance abuse or risky sexual relations. Their relationships are intense but unstable, swinging from periods of close involvement to dramatic breakups. Depression and anxiety are common. According to DBT, these individuals grew up in childhood environments where they did not learn how to cope with, or validate their feelings. Many individuals with this symptom pattern survived childhood sexual abuse, an extreme example of this kind of environment.
3. Treats the Highest Needs First
DBT addresses obstructive behaviors in the order of the most important needs first. Suicide prevention is the primary concern. Second is curbing behaviors that interfere with participation in therapy such as difficulty keeping appointments. The next target is any behavior that diminishes the person's quality of life, such as behaviors related to self-care. Finally, DBT strives to help individuals cope with symptoms stemming from past trauma, such as depression, anxiety or when they feel numb or emotionally disconnected.
4. Mastering Mindfulness
DBT acknowledges the origin of problems in the past, but focuses on dealing with behaviors in the present. Therapeutic sessions teach coping skills following a course of lessons addressing mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation and distress tolerance. Mindfulness is the foundation for all the other skills lessons. Mindfulness is being present in the moment, observing one's inner and outer experiences and describing those experiences objectively. In DBT mindfulness helps the person regulate emotional responses and problematic behaviors.
5. Coaching Team on Your Side
In group therapy individuals learn the DBT skills lessons and share their experiences. Individuals attend one-on-one sessions and talk to their therapists on the phone when they need extra coaching to use their new skills. DBT work focuses on recent experiences and behaviors, the skills one tried to use in a given situation and the things that interfered with successful use of DBT skills at that time.
