Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is a treatment that was derived from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Similar to CBT, DBT helps people change their negative thoughts and modify their feelings. Uniquely, DBT offers strategies to handle situations during states of heightened emotions. DBT uses skills such as:

• Mindfulness- accepting feelings and thoughts in the moment without try to change them
• Distress tolerance- identifying and tolerating emotional pain rather than escaping pain
• Emotion regulation- learning skills to ride the wave of emotions/sit with intense feelings
• Interpersonal skills- improve communication, assertiveness, boundary setting and respect for others to maintain stable relationships

DBT helps people to manage emotional distress, thus, it is a highly effective, research validated intervention for treating borderline personality disorder, mood disorders, addiction, disorders involving self-harm, PTSD and individuals who have difficulty regulating their emotions.  MellaHealth has clinicians specifically trained in the use of DBT skills to support your journey towards emotional well-being.