What is Dialectical Behaviour Therapy 

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a therapy that focuses on Acceptance and Change. The therapy is more effective when a patient experiences the emotions intensely and is ready to bring a positive change in life with the help of DBT. 

 Gradually, new skills are taught to the individuals that help them to understand themselves and shift their focus on the present and future rather than on the past. There is a similarity with CBT in the functionality of DBT, as the focus is on the identification of behaviours and acquiring skills and tools to transform them. 

Focus of DBT 

DBT focuses on the four areas

• Distress Tolerance
• Emotion Regulation
• Mindfulness 
• Interpersonal Effectiveness

Origin of the Therapy 

Dr Marsha Linehan and her colleagues are the pioneers of the therapy and developed it in 1980. 

Basic Principles of the Therapy 

The basic principle of the therapy is to develop healthy thinking patterns and formulate strategies to regulate emotions. 

Therapy Aims to Help

The Psychotherapy originally developed to treat patients with BPD( Borderline Personality Disorder). With time, the therapy is now used to treat people who suffer

•  Emotional instability. 
• Personality Disorder
• Anxiety 
• Eating Disorder
• Trauma 
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 
• Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Addictions
• Suicidal behaviour and self-harm

Treatment and Therapy Sessions

The treatment could be in the form of therapy sessions and these sessions could be individual, group sessions or both combined. The treatment also includes home assignments that are given in order to practise exercises and skills at home. 

How does DBT Work?

The functionality of Dialectical Behavioural Therapy is based on the idea that two different ideas and thoughts opposite from each other are true at the same time. In the context of DBT, the two ideas are acceptance and Change. The aim is to accept oneself and readiness to change the behaviour. The DBT has taught that it is possible to achieve both at the same time. 

Similarity with CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) 

DBT and CBT have similarities as both therapies aim to change destructive behaviour. Attributes of both therapies have been added together in DBT as acceptance strategies have been included from DBT and behavioural transformations have been added from CBT. 

Skills and Techniques of DBT 

There are skills and techniques that individuals learn through this therapy and help to heal, such as 

Mindfulness 

It helps you to focus on the present, and it further enables you to understand your feelings, emotions and impulses. It helps to stay calm in any environment. Negative thoughts and patterns are avoided with the help of mindfulness. It is an effective tool to take care of your mind and not let it hold you.

Distress tolerance

It is an ability to identify the strong emotions and not to react to these emotions. Techniques such as intense feelings and self-soothing are used to handle these emotions. 

Emotional regulation

This skill enables people to identify and name their emotions. It is a helpful strategy as it assists in controlling emotions and effectively solving the problem. 

Interpersonal effectiveness

The skill helps to improve communication skills, and overall, good and healthy relationships can be maintained. It will help you to be more clear in your communication with others, and you will learn

• To say No
• Better listener
• Be more assertive in your overall mannerisms

The therapy helps to adopt and practise the skills in different settings whether in group or individual settings. 

Benefits of DBT

DBT has shown effective results when it has been used as a Therapeutic technique and can show more effective results for people suffering from mental health. The most common benefits of the therapy are 

1. Accept freely everything that comes and make an effective change in your life.
2. Forgetting and letting go of the past and moving forward in life.
3. Increased capacity and ability to understand and identify strong emotions and to deal with these emotions and replace them with positive thoughts. 
4. Control after the identification of harmful behaviours and replace those behaviours with a positive approach.   
5. Learn to communicate effectively to build strong and long-lasting relationships. 
6. Development of lifelong skills and authority and to effectively apply these skills in real life. 
7. Develop a healthy mindset and replace destructive thoughts. 

Who benefits from DBT?

DBT can benefit people who are suffering from mental health problems, such as ones living in a chaotic and critical condition, and those people who feel every emotion strongly. 

• People who suffer from mood swings, grief, disappointment, rage, anger, rejection, isolation and failure. 
• People experience emotional dysregulation and impulsive behaviour.
• Individuals struggle to regulate their emotions.

Celebrity Real Case Study

Selena Gomez is a famous singer and actor who has struggled for a long time after her diagnosis of Lupus, but in order to treat her stress and mental illness, she opted for Dialectical Behavioural Therapy and has said treatment to be very effective.

Summary 

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is an effective therapy that helps people accept themselves and change their lives for the better. The therapy is similar to CBT as both of the therapies focus on changing emotions and thought processes. Multiple mental health issues can be cured through this therapy. 

If you think you need help regarding any mental health issue, wait no more and call Seekapsych now to get connected with the Best therapist and Counsellors in London. 

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