Dialectical behaviour therapy, or DBT, is a specific approach to mental health therapy. DBT comes from cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). DBT emphasizes thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. The term “dialectical” refers to the fact that people understand concepts in relationship to their opposites. With DBT, people learn to manage strong emotions by coming to understand their opposites.
There are certain aspects of this therapeutic approach that are important to know. DBT:
· Reduces black-or white thinking
· Helps people reduce time spent in crisis
· Teaches acceptance, mindfulness, interpersonal skills, distress tolerance, and emotional regulation
· Allows people to develop and use what is called wise mind
The DBT skills are useful in helping people live a life of wellness, hence it is used with many different people with many different mental health conditions.
