Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is designed for individuals who feel overwhelmed by their emotions, often leading to self-destructive behaviors and strained interpersonal relationships. Through a combination of skills training, individual therapy, phone coaching, and consultation teams, DBT empowers clients to experience significant reductions in psychiatric symptoms, enhanced emotional regulation, and a greater sense of control over their lives.
In the initial stage of DBT, clients, with the support of their therapists, focus on addressing life-threatening behaviors (such as suicidality and self-harm), therapy-interfering behaviors (like missed appointments or avoidance of therapeutic topics), and quality of life behaviors (including eating disorders, addictive behaviors, and interpersonal challenges). The goal is to help clients gain behavioral control through learning and practicing new coping strategies during skills training.
As clients progress, they may gain control over self-destructive behaviors but continue to experience emotional pain, often stemming from unresolved traumas and PTSD. This stage aims to help clients process their past experiences, fostering healing and resilience as they move forward.
In the third stage, clients typically feel more secure in their behavioral control. This phase focuses on helping clients identify and align with their personal values and aspirations, enabling them to set meaningful goals. Clients learn to navigate life’s ups and downs while enhancing their sense of self-respect and fulfillment.
In the final stage of DBT, clients work on cultivating a sense of connectedness and wholeness with the world around them. This stage is about increasing the capacity to experience joy and satisfaction, ultimately allowing clients to “build a life worth living.”
Throughout the course of DBT skills training—whether in a group or individual setting—clients learn essential skills, including:
Mindfulness practices
Emotion regulation techniques
Distress tolerance strategies
Interpersonal effectiveness
Dialectical thinking
DBT has consistently demonstrated remarkable effectiveness, including:
A 73% reduction in psychiatric hospitalizations
A 50% decrease in suicide attempts
An annual savings of over $8,000 in mental health costs (Linehan, 2002-2018).
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is one of the most well-researched and evidence-based treatments for emotional dysregulation and related mental health conditions. Developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan in the 1980s, DBT was originally created to treat individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Since then, research has demonstrated its effectiveness for a wide range of emotional and behavioral challenges.
Numerous clinical trials and long-term studies have shown that DBT significantly improves emotional and psychological functioning. Research indicates that DBT can:
✅ Reduce Suicidal Behavior – Studies show that individuals receiving DBT experience fewer suicide attempts and reduced self-harming behaviors compared to those receiving other treatments.
✅ Improve Emotion Regulation – DBT helps individuals better understand, tolerate, and regulate intense emotions.
✅ Decrease Hospitalization Rates – Research has found that DBT reduces the need for psychiatric hospitalization by providing individuals with skills to manage crises more effectively.
✅ Enhance Relationships and Communication – DBT’s focus on interpersonal effectiveness improves conflict resolution and relationship satisfaction.
✅ Reduce Symptoms of PTSD, Anxiety, and Depression – DBT’s distress tolerance and mindfulness components have been shown to improve symptoms related to trauma, anxiety, and depression.
While DBT was originally designed for individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder, research has shown that it is highly effective for treating a broad range of mental health conditions and emotional difficulties, including:
DBT is effective because it combines validation and change strategies, helping individuals build acceptance of their current experiences while learning to develop healthier coping mechanisms. Through a combination of individual therapy, skills training groups, and phone coaching, clients learn to apply DBT skills in real-life situations.
If you or a loved one are struggling with emotional regulation, self-harming behaviors, or interpersonal challenges, DBT can provide the tools needed to build a more stable and fulfilling life.
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We provide compassionate, evidence-based mental health care, specializing in DBT, to help individuals and families Build Resilience and Improve Emotional well-being.