What is DBT?
DBT encompasses four main components of mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation and interpersonal skill building.
This approach is designed to help people increase their emotional and cognitive regulation by learning about the triggers that lead to reactive states and helping to assess which coping skills to apply.
The therapist aims to accept and validate the client’s feelings at any given time, while, nonetheless, informing the client that some feelings and behaviors are maladaptive, and showing them better alternatives through building skills. DBT focuses on the client acquiring new skills and changing their behaviors.