Developed by Marsha M. Linehan, a psychology researcher at the University of Washington, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a system of therapy used to treat those struggling with borderline personality disorder (BPD). There are a number of dialectical behavior therapy techniques that make up DBT. It combines the standard cognitive-behavioral techniques for emotion regulation and reality-testing. It does so with concepts of distress tolerance, acceptance, and mindful awareness is what makes up DBT.
Many say DBT may be the first therapy that has been experimentally successful and effective in treating those suffering from BPD. Recent studies show that DBT can also be helpful in treating patients who presented with varied symptoms and behaviors associated with spectrum mood disorders (including self-injury) as well as sexual abuse survivors and those struggling with chemical dependency.
DBT strives to change the adversarial nature of the therapist/client relationship. During DBT, the therapist aims to accept and validate their client’s feelings while also informing them that some feelings and behaviors could use improvement and then shows them better alternatives.
1) Individual
2) Group
The individual component involves the therapist and patient discussing issues that arise during the week, recorded on diary cards, and follow a treatment target hierarchy. Self-inflicted injury and suicidal behaviors take first priority where behaviors that are not directly harmful to themselves or others but are still interfering with the course of treatment, take a second. Quality of life issues and working towards improving one’s life, in general, are at third rank.
The group component has the group usually meets once a week for two to two and a half-hour. It is here where the client is to use specific skills with four modules; core mindfulness skills, interpersonal effectiveness skills, emotion regulation skills, and distress tolerance skills.
To conclude, both components work in combination with one another. Suicidal urges and uncontrolled emotional issues are kept under control as a result of the individual component while group is used to teach skills unique to DBT while also providing practice with regulating emotions and behavior in a social setting.
Dr. Rodriguez founded the Delray Center in 2003 and built it on a foundation of core clinical, professional, and ethical principles that are adhered to still to this day. Dr. Rodriguez founded the Delray Center in 2003 and built it on a foundation of core clinical, professional, and ethical principles that are adhered to still to this day.