What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)?
Ever feel like you are stuck? If you have ever been on the receiving end of well-meaning friends or loved ones telling you that change is as simple as changing your behavior – I’m sorry. The reality is that there are a variety of human factors, within ourselves, within our circumstances, and within our relationships that make change difficult. Sometimes, it seems as if our emotions are running the show and we are just along for the ride. If this resonates with you, then DBT may be a helpful form of therapy. DBT is an effective form of therapy for intense emotional dysregulation, chronic suicidality, and self-harm.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an approach to therapy that at its core helps us to hold that two opposite things can be true at the same time. It is an approach to therapy that helps us tolerate and engage with the inevitable paradoxes of life.
DBT: A History
DBT is a non-pathologizing, empirically validated approach to treating a variety of conditions developed by Marsha Linhan, PhD. In July 2018, Marsha Linehan was recognized by TIME Magazine as one of the most important scientists of our time. Currently, DBT is an empirically validated form of treatment for Substance Use, Suicidality, Self-Harm, Depression, Anxiety, and Eating Disorders such as binge eating and bulimia.
What Will I Learn?
DBT is rooted in mindful teaching of zen combined with a warm compassionate approach to learning new behaviors. There are five core skills that are developed during DBT therapy:
Mindfulness
The practice of non-judgmentally observing what happens in the present moment
Distress Tolerance
How to tolerate difficult situations, especially the ones that we are unable to change.
Interpersonal Effectiveness
How to develop, set and maintain boundaries with others while communicating our needs assertively.
Emotion Regulation
How to interact, learn from and regulate distressing emotions and create more pleasant emotions.
Middle Path
How to move away from rigid black-and-white thinking and hold multiple perspectives at the same time.
How Will I Benefit From DBT?
Emotions don’t have to be so intense or dysregulating. In fact, if we learn to listen to our emotions they can provide deep wisdom and insight. In DBT therapy you will develop a non-judgmental and accepting relationship with your therapist. You’ll learn skills to help tolerate and regulate distressing emotions and gain more control over your responses. You will develop skills to help you respond rather than react to the situations and people in your life.
Unfortunately, for many of us, we can’t change our circumstances. We must learn to respond and engage with the world in a way that helps us to be heard and with a sense of purpose and power.
Learning to regulate intense emotions is the first step toward experiencing more pleasant emotions. As we get better at interacting with and identifying our emotions we begin to be able to influence and change the way we experience the world. DBT Therapy is a way to move from just surviving in this world to thriving in our lives.
Begin DBT Therapy in Georgia Today!
Struggling to find a way to manage your behaviors and emotions? With DBT Therapy you can begin learning the skills to manage and regulate your intense emotions. At East Cobb Relationship Center, our therapists provide you with support in a safe and comfortable environment to express your feelings. Begin DBT Therapy with these three simple steps:
- Contact us for a free consultation
- Begin meeting with one of our caring therapists
- Start learning the skills to create positive emotions