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My Blog
by Maria Ferrazzi
January 14, 2019
What is Dialectical Behaviour Therapy?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

DBT is simply a modified form of CBT that uses traditional cognitive-behavioral techniques. However, while cognitive behavioral therapy strives to identify and change negative thinking patterns and pushes for positive behavioral changes, dialectical behavior therapy also implements other skills like mindfulness, acceptance, and tolerating distress.

Furthermore, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a comprehensive, evidence-based treatment for borderline personality disorder (BPD). Although DBT was originally developed to treat BPD, research shows that DBT has also been used successfully to treat people experiencing depression, bulimia, binge-eating, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse. In addition, DBT may be used to treat suicidal and other self-harming behaviors.

Emotion regulation, as taught in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), is a skill to help us understand the function of emotions, the action urge that accompanies each emotion, and whether to heed or oppose these urges.


10 DBT Emotion Regulation Strategies & Techniques

  1. Primary emotions: the initial reaction to an event or to triggers in your environment. ...
  2. Take Care of Your Body. ...
  3. Increasing Positive Emotions. ...
  4. Find Ways to Have Fun. ...
  5. Work on Relationships. ...
  6. Be Present to and Mindful of the Positive. ...
  7. Be Unmindful of Worries.

Research shows that people make the most gains in learning DBT Skills within a group setting, If you are struggling with significant emotion dysregulation, you may benefit greatly from joining a DBT Skills Group in your community.