Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy. Its main goals are to teach people how to live in the moment, cope healthily with stress, regulate emotions, and improve relationships with others.
While each therapeutic setting has its own set structure and goals, the following characteristics of DBT are found in group skills training, individual psychotherapy, and phone coaching:
- Support:
You’ll be encouraged to recognize your positive strengths and attributes and develop and use them.
- Behavioral:
You’ll learn to analyze any problem or destructive behavior patterns and replace them with healthy and effective ones.
- Cognitive:
You’ll focus on changing thoughts and beliefs, and behavior, or actions that are not effective or helpful.
- Skill sets:
You’ll learn new skills to enhance your capabilities.
- Acceptance and change:
You’ll learn strategies to accept and tolerate your life, emotions, and yourself as well as skills to help you make positive changes in your behaviors and interactions with others.
- Collaboration:
You’ll learn to communicate effectively and work together as a team (therapist, group therapist, psychiatrist).
