DBT, a form of cognitive behaviour therapy , is designed to help people change unhelpful ways of thinking and behaving while also accepting who they are.
It helps you learn to manage your emotions by letting you recognise, experience and accept them. DBT can also help you understand why you might harm yourself, so you are more likely to change your harmful behaviour.
DBT is usually used to help people diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. People with this disorder feel intense, uncontrollable emotions, have troubled relationships and have a disturbed sense of self. A therapist may also look at other problems that can affect a person's quality of life, such as traumatic experiences, as well as financial stress , employment and relationship problems.
DBT therapists often work in teams and help each other, so they can provide the best treatment possible. A typical course of DBT involves weekly sessions. These may continue for a year, but will depend upon the needs of the individual. DBT helps you gain control over your behaviour. Your therapist will work with you to find new behaviours to replace harmful ones. For some people, Stage 4 is needed.
The goal is to find a deeper meaning through a spiritual existence. A standard DBT program usually has five components, each serving a specific function: A DBT skills training group is facilitated by a skills therapist in a group format similar to a class.
Tasks are provided for people to practice between sessions. The class usually meets once per week for 2. It takes 24 weeks to get through the full skills curriculum, which is often repeated to create a one-year program. In the class, four skills are taught: mindfulness: the practice of being in the present and acknowledging thoughts, feelings and behaviours as they happen, without trying to control them distress tolerance: the process of learning how to cope during a crisis, especially when it is impossible to change, and accepting a situation as it is, rather than how it should be interpersonal effectiveness: the ability to ask for what a person needs and to say no when necessary, while still maintaining self-respect and relationships with others emotion regulation: the ability to manage emotions so that they do not control thoughts and behaviours.
Individual psychotherapy focuses on enhancing motivation and helping people apply the skills to specific challenges and events in their lives. These sessions provide opportunities for the person and the therapist to come together and discuss their individual goals. Sessions are usually held on a weekly basis for 60 to 90 minutes. The therapist will coach a person through a stressful event and encourage them to use their DBT skills. The goal is to ensure that skills are generalized and applied to a person's day-to-day life.
Case management strategies empower the person to take control of their lives and care. The therapist applies the learned strategies to teach the person how to be autonomous and how to be their own case manager. The DBT consultation team is focused on supporting the people who provide DBT, including therapists, skills therapists, case managers and others. The consultation team is designed to help therapists stay motivated and competent so they can provide the best treatment possible.
In most Australian states, DBT programs can be accessed through both the public and private mental health system. Public DBT programs are free to people living in the catchment area of a hospital that offers a program. Talk to your case manager, mental health professional or GP about referral options. Depending on the hospital, there may be a waiting time to access the program.
Some DBT programs run continuously across the year, while others operate on a more specific schedule. Private DBT programs require payment. Prices will vary depending on the specific service you choose. If you have private health insurance, check that it covers psychiatric admissions. To join a private DBT program, a psychiatrist from the specific hospital or clinic can provide a referral for you.
This SANE factsheet was reviewed by industry professionals. Skip to main content 18 Email us Visit forums Chat to us. Dialectical behaviour therapy DBT. Listen to this page. Acceptance-oriented skills Mindfulness Learning how to focus your awareness on the present moment, and to acknowledge and accept your thoughts, feelings, behaviours and bodily sensations as they occur, without the need to control or manipulate them.
Related: Mindfulness Distress tolerance Learning how to manage and cope during a crisis, and to tolerate distress when it is difficult or impossible to change a situation. Change-oriented skills Emotional regulation Learning how to effectively manage your emotional experience, and not allow your emotions to manage you.
Interpersonal effectiveness Learning assertiveness strategies to appropriately ask for what you want or need. Sometimes, once patients are able to use DBT skills to regulate their emotions, practice mindfulness, and improve relationships with others, they are able to transition to more standard CBT groups to address specific negative thought patterns or recurring harmful behaviors.
The best way to figure out which type of therapy treatment is best for you is to talk with a mental health professional — a therapist, psychiatrist or psychologist. They will consider your symptoms, treatment history, and the goals you outline for what you want out of therapy, and recommend the best next steps. Because each illness responds differently to treatment techniques, you will want to go with the method that has been shown most effective for treating your diagnosis and symptoms.
If you have not yet received a diagnosis from a psychiatrist or psychologist, consider setting an appointment for psychiatric diagnosis and psychological testing. This will help you identify the best treatment options, as well as strengths and existing skills you can leverage in your recovery process. Depression and anxiety sufferers have found a lot of success with CBT, while people with borderline personality disorder and chronic thoughts of suicide find DBT more helpful.
Keep in mind that many people have more than one diagnosis, and sometime people use elements from both DBT and CBT to manage their symptoms. Because the patient-therapist relationship is so important, consider interviewing a few other therapists to see if you can find a better match. If a goal of therapy is to improve your relationships with others, consider trying couples therapy or family therapy instead of going it alone. And give it a few weeks before you call it quits.
Remember that your therapist is not going to do the work for you. You will need to commit to doing the hard work of making changes in your life to support healthier thinking, healthier behaviors, and healthier living.
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