Our Gold Coast psychologists are trained in DBT find out more how we can help you below
PSYCHOLOGY GOLD COAST - DIALECTICAL BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY (DBT)
WHAT IS DBT?
DBT stands for Dialectical Behavioural Therapy – a type of psychotherapy created by Marsha Linehan. The background of DBT is based on a biopsychosocial model of understanding that an individual’s presenting concerns are shaped through a combination of biological (genetic) and environmental (psychological and social) factors.
DBT supports the notion of looking at things ‘dialectically’ (D) or that two opposite views can both be true, while it also covers a range of therapeutic skills to support with reducing any unhelpful or life-threatening behaviours (B) including distress tolerance, emotional regulation, interpersonal effectiveness and reality acceptance.
WHAT CAN DBT HELP WITH?
DBT was primarily developed to support individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder as a treatment approach to build skills to reduce any risk of harm to self (such as self-harming or suicidal thoughts and behaviours) or any unhelpful behaviours in order to work towards a life worth living. DBT can also be used for anyone needing support around understanding and managing their emotions, learning to better cope with stress or emotional distress, or building interpersonal skills such as healthy boundaries within their personal relationships.
Appropriate DBT intervention is also highly recommended to include not only individual therapy sessions, but also DBT group sessions alongside phone coaching to best support the learning and implementing of skills.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN A STRUCTURED DBT SESSION?
DBT intervention may include general learning of skills to support individuals with their mental health difficulties, while a structured DBT approach tends to include the following:
- Commitment work both from the client and the therapist
- Identifying and managing/reducing any target or life-threatening behaviours (such as self-harm, suicide, substance use)
- Learning and using skills including mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness skills
- Completing diary cards to support with monitoring any triggers, behaviours, emotions, and use of skills & reviewing these using a chain analysis