Dialectical Behavior Therapy DBT for Emotional Well-Being
Mindfulness, one of the foundational modules of DBT, emphasizes staying grounded in the amphetamine addiction treatment present moment. Through mindfulness skills, individuals learn to observe and accept their emotional responses and thoughts without judgment. Practicing mindfulness regularly enhances emotional regulation, decreases impulsivity, and fosters a greater sense of well-being. CBT proves most effective for people dealing with anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and substance use issues. The structured, goal-oriented nature of CBT appeals to many individuals who prefer a more direct approach to addressing their concerns.

Developed in the late 1980s by psychologist Dr. Marsha Linehan, DBT is a specialized form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). It was designed with a strong emphasis on learning emotion regulation skills and balancing acceptance and change. The modality was created to help people living with borderline personality disorder who commonly struggle with managing intense emotions, unstable relationships, and impulsive behaviors. Over time, both clinicians and clients discovered that its benefits extend far beyond its original purpose. Today, DBT is recognized as a widely used, evidence-based treatment for anxiety therapy, depression therapy, PTSD therapy, and more. DBT is an evidence-based form of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) designed to help individuals manage emotions, improve relationships, and develop coping skills for distressing situations.
Over time, Sarah experienced a significant reduction in her anxiety symptoms and developed a newfound sense of hope and resilience. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a widely used and evidence-based treatment that focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors. It’s particularly effective for conditions like anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
Decreased Self-Destructive Behaviors
The fifth point involves the concept of “wise mind,” which represents the integration of emotional and rational thinking. This balanced approach helps individuals make decisions that consider both their feelings and logical reasoning. Emotion regulation represents the third point, teaching people how to identify, understand, and manage their emotional responses more effectively. This skill set proves particularly valuable for those who experience rapid mood changes or intense emotional reactions. CBT and DBT therapy share some common ground, yet their core methodologies differ significantly.
Treatment for Substance Use Disorder and Co-occurring Mental Health Disorder
DBT effectively treats conditions such as borderline personality disorder, PTSD, chronic suicidal ideation, and eating disorders. Each of our groups are run by various therapists as well that employ both evidence-based therapies as well as holistic approaches that dig into more spiritual sides of how clients experience life and their struggles. We also utilize spiritual psychology to help those that may struggle with these concepts. It is so important that each individual can be motivated by their own personal connection to something bigger than themselves and their struggles. While DBT is primarily designed for individuals with borderline personality disorder, its techniques can benefit many facing various emotional challenges.

Bridge the Gap: Virtual Treatment for Rapid Access to Care
Such flexibility allows tailoring of care in ways that vary and respond throughout therapeutic processes. Finally, the sixth component emphasizes the dialectical philosophy itself – the ability to hold two seemingly contradictory truths simultaneously. This perspective helps clients accept their dialectical behavioral therapy current circumstances while working actively to create positive changes.
Why it’s important
No, we’re not talking about fishing for compliments—it’s about recognizing and accepting your emotions as real and valid, even when they’re tough to deal with. For example, if you’re someone who tends to people-please or avoid conflict, DBT teaches you to stand up for yourself in a way that’s respectful and assertive. Think of it like having a thermostat for your emotions—you get to control the temperature before things get too hot (or too cold).
- DBT equips you with practical tools to manage emotions, handle cravings, and build healthier relationships.
- However, the treatment has been slightly adapted to treat a variety of other mental health disorders successfully.
- Through DBT, individuals with borderline personality disorder can experience significant reductions in self-harming, suicidal behaviors, suicide attempts, and hospitalizations.
- At Sierra Health + Wellness, we understand the complexities of addressing various mental health challenges.
Skills taught include how to distract and self-soothe when feeling distressed. This point proves helpful because people with mental health disorders tend to react negatively out of habit. Mindfulness teaches a person to identify their feelings and reactions that take place internally without being consumed with negativity or acting out in self-destructive manners. Becoming non-judgmental about emotions means a person can become aware of them without leap-frogging to maladaptive reactions.
- Each avenue of therapy is important in creating a well-constructed treatment plan that touches on varying aspects of the emotional dysregulation in the client.
- When you validate yourself, it can aid emotion regulation and help you engage in actions that are supportive of you and your recovery journey.
- At Roaring Brook Recovery, we work with a broad range of conditions and concerns that DBT can help with.
- Dialectical therapy helps patients see things from new and unique perspectives, which can pull them out of psychological ruts and point them toward solutions they might not otherwise have considered.
You’re either super happy or super upset, everything is either going great or falling apart, and there’s no middle ground. Walking the middle path is DBT’s way of helping you break free from this black-and-white thinking and find balance. Let’s dive into the six main points of DBT and see how this therapy can help you take on life with a little more balance and a lot less chaos.

Our couple counselling service is designed to support partners in navigating relationship complexities. With our accredited therapists, you’ll work on fostering improved communication, deepening emotional bonds, and resolving conflicts. We aim to help you enhance your partnership, fostering growth and understanding, and strengthening your shared future. Arduna Ltd, Counselling & Psychotherapy Centre is located in Clontarf, North Dublin. Some of the therapists are qualified to provide supervision to other professionals.
Liv identifies as queer and neurodivergent, and works hard to help similarly identifying clients. Live’s work revolves around the intersections between neurodivergence, expansive pathways of substance use and mental recovery, and LGBTQIA+ identities. Communicating with, or collaborating with, fellow therapists who practice DBT can enhance client care.
Skills that teach interpersonal effectiveness help people establish and maintain boundaries and respect those set by those around them. As the individual becomes skilled at the give and take of speaking with others and how to resolve conflicts, their ability to enjoy familial relationships and social situations increases. Our staff of highly experienced mental health therapists and other clinicians works with a diverse population of people who can benefit from this life-changing therapy. DBT helps people gain control they can’t get from other treatment plans and carry it into their post-treatment lives.