Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) was created in the 1970s by Marsha M. Linehan, a psychology researcher at the University of Washington.
Initially, intended to help women diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, the evidence base for its effectiveness has since expanded considerably and DBT is now widely used for the effective treatment of personality disorder traits, anxiety, depression, addiction, and more.
Dialectical means that two opposites that are contradictory, can both be true and valid at the same time. This is described by Marsha Linehan as a “synthesis or integration of opposites”. It is common for people with emotion regulation difficulties to think and behave in absolutes (all or nothing terms). Finding a dialectic or dialectical thinking means finding different ways of viewing the same thing. For example, “I can love someone and be cross with them” or “I love my job and I hate my job”. Learning to view the world dialectically challenges the black and white, all or nothing thinking that can be problematic in living.
DBT is a behaviour therapy. When we have an emotional response a complex system inside us is activated. We will have an internal experience of the feeling, a physiological body response (hormones are released into our system), a thought (that will support the emotion), an urge to do something and the behaviour itself (what we actually do). In this system, DBT focusses on behavioural change as a way in to regulating our emotions. If we behave how we feel we will make more of that emotion. Therefore, if we can unhook our behaviour from the urges we feel, we are well on our way to effective emotion regulation.
The four pillars of DBT are mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness. These modules contain skills specifically developed to help individuals manage difficult, intense emotions, maintain balanced relationships and cope with stress more effectively. Over time, as a result of the supportive group environment and positive outcomes of using skills, clients experience an increase in self-worth and confidence.
If you struggle with regulating and understanding your emotions, become easily distressed, use unhealthy coping mechanisms, or struggle to maintain meaningful relationships, our DBT programme might be beneficial for you.
Our courses are conducted exclusively online via Zoom and are facilitated by BACP Accredited therapists Sarah Turner and Sheree Irwin. To find out more please select a course from the menu below.
