DBT is an evidenced-based therapy where skills are taught to regulate emotions and to replace unhealthy coping strategies with more adaptive skills. DBT is typically delivered in a group format, long term, for about 24 weeks. However as DBT is an effective therapy for other mental health conditions, DBT can be delivered in shorter group sessions and also individual sessions. These skills assist the individual to cope with distress and manage intense emotions and behaviours. Between each session, clients are encouraged to practice the skills learned. The four main skills taught include:
- Mindfulness: the practice of being in the present and acknowledging thoughts, feelings, and behaviours as they happen, without trying to control them
- Distress tolerance: the process of learning how to cope during a crisis, especially when it is impossible to change, and accepting a situation as it is, rather than how it should be
- Interpersonal effectiveness: the ability to ask for what a person needs and to say no when necessary, while still maintaining self-respect and relationships with others
- Emotion regulation: the ability to manage emotions so that they do not control thoughts and behaviours.
DBT was originally intended for individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, however, DBT can be an effective therapy for other mental health conditions such as depression, PTSD, and substance use.
