Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is a specialized type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Considered part of the “Third Wave” of CBT, the treatment was initially created in the early 1990s by Dr. Marsha Linehan. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is evidence-based, meaning that it has a large body of research behind it, showing that it has been effective in treating various mental health concerns. It was initially designed to treat symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD) and works by balancing principles of acceptance (e.g., of challenges, a person’s circumstances, etc.) and change (e.g., skills focused on changing how we react to emotions).
Intense Emotions Can Make You Feel Isolated
Intense emotions, thoughts, and compulsive behaviors can rule your life. Stress, medical issues, relationship strain, and other factors contribute to mental distress. As a result, some people feel plagued by hopelessness and confusion.
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Many People Suffer From Intense Emotions
If you feel things more intensely than others, you are not alone. People with borderline personality disorder (BPD) or other mental health concerns struggle with an array of symptoms. Anxiety, depression, challenges in interpersonal relationships, or patterns of self-harm can make people feel alone in their suffering.
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DBT Therapy Can Help You Find Emotional Freedom
Relationship issues, reduced distress tolerance, and past trauma can lead to problems in your physical and mental health. These complex concerns can numb you as you try to find a solution for healing. Working with an experienced therapist who specializes in DBT therapy for emotional regulation and other mental health concerns can help you process your feelings, manage emotional patterns, and cope with triggers using practical DBT skills.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Managing the powerful emotions of mental health concerns can feel overwhelming. The good news is that you don’t have to let intense emotions and emotional dysregulation rule your life. The Center for Collaborative Behavioral Health offers fully adherent and comprehensive Dialectical Behavioral Therapy to help people manage emotions and cope with triggers.
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What Mental Health Concerns Does Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Address?
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) addresses a wide range of mental health issues. Although it’s designed for those with BPD, it has proven effective for many other concerns and disorders. DBT therapy can help address anger, shame, interpersonal conflict, reduced distress tolerance, and many other problems. At its core, DBT therapy is a treatment for addressing emotion dysregulation and it can be extremely helpful and freeing for anyone who feels that they have big emotions and difficulty managing them.
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Who Can Benefit From DBT Therapy?
Some symptoms of BPD are similar to other mental health concerns. Everyone will have a different mental health journey and experience unique symptoms. If you’re struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, or uncontrollable emotions, DBT therapy can help. If you've ever searched for DBT therapy near you, this could be the right approach for your emotional healing.
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Does DBT Therapy Focus On Certain Components For Recovery?
Yes. Comprehensive Dialectical Behavioral Therapy offers four primary treatment modalities: individual therapy, skills group, phone coaching, and therapist team consultations. DBT therapy aims to strengthen awareness and equip people with the tools to manage intense emotions, improve distress tolerance, enhance emotional regulation skills, and build a life worth living—a life that is driven by their values and goals and not by the emotions or behaviors that often interfere.