Dialectical Behaviour Therapy is a highly specialised type of treatment aimed at working with clients who experience emotions intensely. Those who benefit from DBT often find it difficult to manage and navigate their emotional states. Originally developed as a treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder, DBT has been successfully applied to other serious mental health problems such as chronic depression and eating disorders.
Dialectic Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a talking therapy that is based on Cognitive Behavioural therapy (CBT).
However, unlike CBT which is aimed at changing negative core beliefs, DBT is aimed primarily at people who experience emotions very intensely. DBT was originally developed to treat those who have a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder, but can also be very helpful for people with eating disorders, depression and those with self-harming or suicidal behaviours.
DBT is based around ‘dialectics’ which could be described as examining and balancing opposing positions. In therapy, DBT will be focused on:
While these might seem to be in opposition, it is only through really accepting who we are and how we experience the world that we can make changes.
With DBT, you will learn to manage your difficult emotions by recognising, experiencing and accepting them. As you progress, you will learn how to regulate your emotions and to change harmful behaviour.
DBT can be offered in a variety of ways and is often a combination of individual therapy, skills training in groups and telephone coaching.
At Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy, we are able to offer individual therapy. Within this therapy, there is a hierarchy of goals, which are:
The types of skills you will learn in the individual sessions are:
Mindfulness: This will help you to focus on the present rather than be distracted by thoughts and worries about the past or future.
Distress tolerance: This will help you to tolerate emotional pain in a difficult situation without trying to change it or resort to self-harming behaviours.
Interpersonal effectiveness: This will help you to be more effective in your relationships, to ask for help, be able to say ‘no’ and maintain your self-respect.
Emotional regulation: This will enable you to understand and be aware of your emotions and to have more control over them.
DBT is aimed at people who experience intense emotions and who want to change their behaviours. DBT does require commitment and at times it can be hard work.
However, if you wish to make changes in your life, want to learn emotional regulation, and to change harmful behaviours, then DBT could help.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy is offered by Dr Simon Cassar and Lucie Ramet in Brighton & Hove clinic and our Lewes clinic.
If you are unsure of the type of therapy you need, you can search for a therapist here.
