Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based therapy for individuals who have difficulty managing and regulating their emotions.
Dialectical means combining opposite ideas or walking the middle path.
DBT comprises four main modules:
1. Mindfulness
Mindfulness is to cultivate awareness to be able to sit with difficult states of mind, identify problems before they spiral out of control and allowing you to implement skills that will make either the make situation better or at least help you cope in a way that doesn’t make it worse. It is the the foundation for the other DBT modules.
2. Distress Tolerance
In crisis situations, it can be tempting to act out on unhelpful urges - whether that’s self harm, substance misuse, disordered eating, gambling or any other risky behaviours. The problem is that whilst some of these strategies provide short term relief, distraction and comfort, they often cause more problems and take us further away from our goals and the life we want to live.
Distress tolerance teaches skills to help you manage crisis situations and difficult events in your life more effectively, cope with distress, and reduce the likelihood of engaging in risky behaviours.
3. Emotion Regulation
You will learn what emotions are, their purpose and function in day-to-day life and the factors that may interfere with you regulating your emotions. Additionally, you will learn to build positive emotions and resilience.
4. Interpersonal Effectiveness
Humans are social beings, and our relationships can be both a boon and bane to our mental health. In the safe space of therapy, you will be encouraged to explore about the areas you struggle with, learn to establish healthy boundaries, assert your needs, and manage conflicts more skilfully.
These DBT skills are beneficial for everyone with or without mental health concerns.
Comments