Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

The word "dialectical" is about uniting two opposites. In DBT, this means that the psychologist helps you accept yourself and your feelings exactly as they are right here and now, while you commit to changing unhelpful behavior that hurts you or your relationships.

The treatment focuses on strengthening skills in emotion regulation and creating safe and strong relationships with others. You learn to recognize early signs of emotional overwhelm and use alternative coping strategies instead of impulsive actions or self-destructive patterns.

DBT was originally developed for people with borderline personality disorder, but has proven highly effective for anyone experiencing severe difficulties with emotion regulation. Examples of skills learned in DBT are:

• Mindfulness: Being present in the moment without judging yourself.
• Distress Tolerance: Managing intense emotional crises without making the situation worse.
• Emotion Regulation: Understanding, identifying, and reducing vulnerability to overwhelming emotions.
• Interpersonal Effectiveness: Setting healthy boundaries, expressing needs, and nurturing relationships in a respectful way.

The goal of DBT is to help you build a stable and meaningful life worth living.