DBT Coaching

Service Description

What Is DBT? Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) was developed by Marsha Linehan (1993) as a treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder. The focus in DBT is on an integration of acceptance and change. A primary component is Mindfulness, which entails a present-centered approach and emphasis on moment-to-moment experience. Essentially, CBT was integrated with this concept of mindfulness in an effort to help patients with BPD, who usually have histories of invalidation from one or more caretakers, to balance their need for validation with effective strategies for change. Many patients with BPD suffer with chronic emotion dysregulation and Linehan’s model was created primarily to deal with this issue, which she was finding much resistance to using classic CBT. • DBT = CBT + validation (acceptance of self by self and others in present moment). • Can hold acceptance of present self and change at same time. Non-acceptance makes change more difficult, causing emotional dysregulation and inability to tolerate distress. • Research showed DBT effective for substance use disorders, suicide attempts, PTSD, self-harm, symptoms of depression and anxiety, eating disorders, others. Dialectical World View 1. Holistic: All elements are connected and in relationship 2. Reality is complex, filled with oppositions 3. Change in continual, transactional 4. Identity is relational and in continuous change 1. Module 1 – Mindfulness – being aware of present moment without judgment. 2. Module 2 – Distress Tolerance – getting through crisis situation without making things worse and accepting reality as it is. 3. Module 3 - Emotional Regulation – understanding and reducing somatic and cognitive vulnerability to emotions - change unwanted emotions. Recognizing emotions, observing emotions without judgement, and overcoming barriers to healthy emotions. 4. Module 4 – Interpersonal Effectiveness – getting interpersonal objectives met, maintaining relationships, and increasing self-respect in relationships.