Is DBT Right For Me?
DBT is a great therapeutic model if you are needing some assistance in helping regulate overwhelming or difficult emotions. This framework can help empower you to understanding and befriend the natural ebbs and flows of emotional experiences.
The History of DBT
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) was developed by Marsha Linehan to help people manage overwhelming emotions. Traditionally this type of therapy consisted of psychotherapy, group skills training, telephone coaching, and a therapist consultation team. Although this type of intensive DBT is available in limited areas across Toronto the positive impacts of DBT can still be experienced through group skills training and individual therapy.
Where Does the DBT Name Come From?
DBT may sound familiar to CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) and that’s because DBT was based on elements from CBT however, DBT has an emotion based focus. The D in DBT stands for dialectic, which involves the philosophy of allowing two opposing truths to exist at once (for example “it is rainy AND sunny outside” or “I can love my partner AND hate how they treated me”).
The Core Components of DBT:
- Distress Tolerance
- Mindfulness
- Emotion Regulation
- Interpersonal Effectiveness