What skills are taught in DBT?

In DBT, the term “dialectical” refers to finding a balance between two seemingly opposing concepts: acceptance and change. DBT clients learn to accept themselves and their emotions and thoughts as they are, without judgment, and work toward making positive changes to build a life worth living. DBT treatment involves teaching people skills to learn acceptance and to help them make changes. The term “behaviour” is used because DBT aims to help people identify problematic behaviours and replace them with new, more effective ones

During DBT, people are taught skills in four areas:

  • Mindfulness skills help people focus on and accept the present moment without judgment. Mindfulness in DBT involves three “what” skills (observing, describing, and participating in the present moment) and three “how” skills (non judgmental state of mind, paying attention to one thing at a time, and doing what is needed in the present moment).

  • Distress tolerance skills help people better tolerate and accept distress and pain. In DBT, people are taught that distress and pain cannot be entirely avoided in life, but by using certain strategies, they can be tolerated.

  • Interpersonal effectiveness skills include strategies people can use to assert themselves in social situations, including saying no, asking for what they want, and dealing with conflict in relationships. Additionally, these skills also emphasize building new and maintaining existing relationships, as well as maintaining self-respect in them.

  • Emotion regulation skills help people better understand and control their emotions. In DBT, people learn several strategies to improve their emotion regulation, including identifying and labelling their current emotions, identifying obstacles that prevent them from changing their emotions, and engaging in positive events and experiences, among others.

Conditions Commonly Treated with DBT.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ( ADHD )

Major Depressive Disorder

Bipolar Disorder

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Social Anxiety Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Eating Disorders

Substance Use Disorder

Non-Suicidal Self-Injury

Self-harm

Suicidal thoughts

Impulsivity

Anger management

Relationship difficulties

Mood swings

Social interaction

Shame and self-criticism

Fear of abandonment

Anger and rage

Low self-esteem