What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?
Some people experience their emotions very intensely, and while that’s not always a bad thing, it can lead to challenges. When your emotional state becomes so overwhelming that it hinders your daily activities, it’s time to ask for help.
At NPS, we understand that strong emotions can make a person more empathetic, motivated, and creative. Our specialists see the beauty inherent in every person, and our goal is only to help clients become their most stable, healthy, and happy selves. Sometimes, that pursuit calls for a treatment called Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). This therapy is similar to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, but is specifically designed to help those who feel their emotions intensely.
What It Is
DBT is a type of talk therapy, which means it takes place during a meeting between a client and a licensed professional. During this meeting, feelings are shared, patterns identified, and solutions found. It is an offshoot of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that has been adapted to address the needs of people with emotional disorders.
The goal of Dialectical Behavior Therapy is threefold:
- Understand and accept difficult feelings.
- Learn techniques for coping with and managing those feelings.
- Use these skills and information to effect positive changes in one’s life.
With DBT, the emphasis is on two “dialectical”, or opposing, ideas: to both accept and change one’s emotions and responses. At first glance, those goals may not seem compatible, but with DBT, both can be achieved.
Who It Helps
Dialectical Behavior Therapy is designed to help people who struggle with hard-to-control emotions or patterns of impulsive behavior. It’s also a proven therapy for those who experience:
- Identity confusion
- Feelings of emptiness
- Difficulty in navigating interpersonal conflicts
- Self-harm thoughts and behaviors
- An inability to calm down once distressed
Topics addressed in DBT sessions include everything from mindfulness to emotional regulation, setting boundaries, communication, and more. This type of therapy can be effective for anyone struggling with strong emotions, but is specifically recommended for those experiencing any of the following mental health disorders.
Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder is a complex condition, the hallmarks of which are intense emotions and instability in one’s interpersonal relationships. For this reason, DBT is often recommended as treatment for sufferers of this disorder.
In these cases, DBT looks different for every client. However, across the board, the goal is not only to manage everyday issues but to achieve a deeper, more long-lasting level of transformation. If you are suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder, our specialists won’t use DBT to punish irrational emotions and harmful behaviors. Instead, we’ll help you accept and deal with them.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop after a terrifying and impactful event. Examples of traumatic events include illness, war, accidents, abuse, or even natural disasters. The symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder include everything from intrusive memories to mood swings and emotional instability.
Naturally, this makes DBT a popular choice of treatment for this disorder. It helps sufferers stay grounded in the present moment and build stronger skills in emotional regulation and distress tolerance. Again, the goal is not to reject one’s emotions and memories, but to accept them and move forward past them.
Substance Use Disorders
Often, sufferers of Substance Use Disorders turn to harmful substances in the first place because they have difficulty regulating their emotions. With DBT, these individuals can get to the root of their emotional distress and change the behaviors that occur as a result. This method of therapy encourages the individual to think optimistically about their circumstances. There’s no blaming or regretting past behavior, only accepting and moving forward in healthier and happier ways.
DBT can take place during individual or group therapy sessions. Group therapy is often recommended for sufferers of Substance Use Disorder because it helps to reduce the isolation and shame often associated with addiction.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders often co-occur with emotional regulation issues. Often, this is because certain food behaviors are used as coping mechanisms to establish control or soothe distress. In severe cases, DBT is not recommended as the sole treatment for an eating disorder, but it can be used as a companion treatment to other therapies.
With Dialectical Behavior Treatment, coping skills can be taught to help individuals accept and deal with their distress. Eventually, this may help reduce the need for unhealthy food behaviors as distress tolerance and emotional regulation are gradually established.
Depression and Anxiety Disorders
Depression and anxiety are some of the more common mental health disorders we see at NPS, and both can be treated with DBT when symptoms include overwhelming or hard-to-control emotions. For anxiety, DBT helps clients:
- Learn how to sit with uncomfortable feelings.
- Build tolerance for their discomfort.
- Reduce avoidance, which is a key driver of anxiety.
For depression, DBT allows a client to:
- Establish a sense of control.
- Accomplish dreaded tasks.
- Learn how to prevent their emotions from taking over.
Overall, the goal of depression and anxiety treatment is to learn how to make it through emotional distress without spiraling, worrying, or getting stuck in one place. DBT is a proven way to do that.
When You Should Call NPS
If you think Dialectical Behavior Therapy may be a good fit for you, give our office a call. We are here to help you get unstuck, deal with intense emotions, navigate complicated relationships, and develop the skills needed for a healthier life.
« BackTherapists
These are our therapists who are experienced in working with Dialect Behavioral Therapy.
