Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, or DBT, was developed by psychologist Marsha Linehan to treat people with borderline personality disorder (BPD). It was designed to be used in conjunction with other forms of therapy and medication and has been shown to be helpful in treating depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, substance abuse disorders, bipolar disorder, self-injury and suicidal ideation. The treatment also helps people who experience stress that results from life transitions such as divorce or job loss. This article on DBT and mental health conditions will examine the different approaches used in the therapy and what it might be able to do for you.
What is Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)?
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy is a form of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) that focuses on learning how to regulate emotions, control behaviours, manage stress, resolve conflicts within yourself or in relationships, as well as cope with any other challenges you may face. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy was originally created by psychologist Marsha Linehan in 1970s. Her initial motivation behind developing DBT was to help individuals who were suicidal to find a way to survive until they found more effective ways of coping with their mental illness. The therapy can be traced back to ancient philosophy through Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, but it wasn’t formally developed until Martin Seligman’s experiments during World War II.
Depression And DBT
So Many Questions, So Little Time: Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a type of therapy designed to address major mental health issues such as Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, eating disorders, severe anxiety, addiction, sexual dysfunction and other seemingly intractable problems. DBT can be life-changing for people dealing with these disorders. But there are so many questions surrounding DBT: what is it? What’s its history?
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) And DBT
OCD is a type of anxiety disorder that involves recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviours (compulsions). It can be incredibly difficult to manage on your own; however, dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) may help. DBT is an effective treatment for people with a variety of mental health issues—including but not limited to bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, substance abuse issues and more. And it might also work well for those who have OCD.
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) And DBT
An Effective Combination For Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) patients, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is often a more effective treatment than psychotherapy. Why? The main reason for its effectiveness lies in DBT’s focus on validation: Validation is at the core of DBT, to say nothing of its relationships with CBT, ACT, and mindfulness therapies.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) And DBT
What Is PTSD? When you are in a dangerous situation, your brain’s limbic system (the part of your brain that controls emotions) can trigger a fight or flight response. You may experience intense physical reactions to stimuli related to your trauma for years afterwards. According to Duality Healing, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder. It occurs when there has been exposure to a terrifying event in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened.
