What is DBT?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy that is composed of four main components: Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness. Within each component, specific techniques and skills are taught so that clients can learn how to better cope with difficult situations and manage their emotions more effectively. It is meant to be relatively short (6 months to a year), as the goal is to take the skills learned and incorporate them into one’s life. While DBT was originally created to treat Borderline Personality Disorder, it is now commonly used with people who have difficulty regulating emotions, and who use unhealthy coping strategies in an attempt to manage their feelings. The overarching goal of DBT is to create a life worth living.