Understanding DBT

DBT

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a type of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan in the 1990s. DBT is an evidence-based treatment that helps individuals with difficulty managing emotional regulation, which can cause problematic behavior patterns and interpersonal difficulties.

DBT has been shown to treat people with a number of different mental health difficulties, including those who experience intense emotions, engage in self-injury, have problematic eating or substance use behaviors, and/or those who experience suicidal thinking. The overall goal of DBT is to help individuals change ineffective behavioral, emotional, thinking, and interpersonal patterns while also integrating acceptance.

There are five main skill areas in DBT:

- Mindfulness
- Emotion Regulation
- Interpersonal Effectiveness
- Distress Tolerance
- Walking the Middle Path

One of the most widely known and practiced evidence-based therapies is called cognitive behavior therapy (CBT).

Key differences include the emphasis of validation, or accepting uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

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What is CBT?

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Key Differences

DBT vs CBT

Key differences include the emphasis of validation, or accepting uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

DBT