Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT): Managing Emotions and Coping

Introduction:

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), originally created by Dr. Marsha Linehan, is a comprehensive cognitive-behavioural treatment designed to help individuals manage intense emotions and develop effective coping strategies. While initially developed for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), its effectiveness has led to its wide use for various conditions, including anxiety, depression, and self-harm.

The "Dialectical" Principle:

DBT is named for its core dialectical tension: the balance between acceptance (of the client's current reality and experience) and the need for change (in destructive behaviours and thinking patterns).

Four Core Skill Modules: DBT combines cognitive-behavioural techniques with mindfulness practices, structured around four primary skills modules:

• Mindfulness: Focusing on the present moment, observing, describing, and participating non-judgmentally.

  
  

• Distress Tolerance: Developing skills to get through a crisis situation without making things worse (e.g., distraction, self-soothing).

  
  

• Emotion Regulation: Understanding, naming, and changing emotional responses to be more effective and manageable.

  
  

• Interpersonal Effectiveness: Learning how to ask for what one needs, say no, and maintain self-respect while improving relationships.

  
  

Clinical Relevance:

DBT is often delivered in a structured program involving weekly individual therapy, skills training groups, phone coaching, and a consultation team for the therapist. Clinicians find DBT's structured, skills-based approach invaluable for clients struggling with pervasive emotional and behavioral dysregulation.