Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Medically reviewed by Laura Angers Maddox, NCC, LPC
Updated July 22, 2024by BetterHelp Editorial Team

Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is an approach within clinical psychology that aims to treat personality disorders and other mental health conditions. Dialectical behavioral therapy was developed out of the practice of cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT. CBT helps people become aware of and work to adjust flawed thought patterns that cause unhelpful or distressing emotion and/or behavior. Dialectical Behavior Therapy also does this, and tacks on additional dialectical components and skills training. Depending on the symptoms or the challenges you’re experiencing in your life, dialectical behavioral therapy might be an effective therapeutic option to consider seeking out.

iStock/PeopleImages
Have questions about dialectical behavior therapy?

The key components of dialectical behavioral therapy: Interpersonal effectiveness, skills training, emotion control, and more

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) was originally conceptualized by the psychologist Marsha Linehan. She saw that behavior therapy was effective for identifying negative thought patterns and changing them, but noticed that it lacked the component to help people learn how to handle situations when their emotions were heightened or intense.

Linehan wanted to develop a form of mental health treatment that could help people cope when they were experiencing more extreme emotional pain instead of turning to their unhealthy mechanisms, which is how DBT was born.

Dialectical behavioral therapy focuses on helping people learn to manage their emotional distress and intense emotions. It’s intended to equip the individual with a toolbox of behavioral skills to help them cope with pain and learn emotion control to manage emotions and other mental health problems. Dialectical behavior therapy skills training focuses on the following areas:

  • Mindfulness skills, or being aware of and calmly accepting one’s feelings in the present moment to achieve emotion control
  • Distress tolerance, or recognizing the painful emotions and managing them effectively and healthily with emotional control skills
  • Interpersonal effectiveness, which involves learning how to better communicate with others and navigate their relationships

What can DBT treat: DBT for borderline personality disorder and more

Research has found that comprehensive dialectical behavior therapy can be a clinically effective treatment for a variety of mental health problems and conditions. DBT therapy is most commonly recommended for those with borderline personality disorder (BPD). This personality disorder is characterized by an intense fear of abandonment, impulsive and/or risky behaviors, wide mood swings, angry outbursts, rapid changes in self-identity, self harm, and suicidal threats or behavior. Dialectical behavioral therapy can help with these symptoms by assisting individuals in learning to improve their distress tolerance skills, emotion, control, and adopt healthy coping skills through therapeutic intervention. 

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or behaviors, seek help immediately. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached 24/7 by dialing 988.

Getty/AnnaStills

Dialectical behavioral therapy ongoing research

In addition, ongoing research is in progress to determine whether dialectical behavior therapy may also be a clinically effective treatment for disorders and mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, eating disorders including binge eating disorder, drug and alcohol dependence, and post-traumatic stress disorder. That said, theoretical and empirical observations suggest that virtually anyone can benefit from learning some dialectical behavior skills since everyone experiences difficult emotions and self-destructive behaviors from time to time that they may want to change with the help of therapy. Whether it’s used as the primary clinical treatment for a certain, specific condition depends on the individual and the professional opinion of their therapy provider.

DBT treatment may be used in conjunction with the use of medication for certain mental health issues or as a stand-alone treatment. It can take the form of individual therapy sessions, group sessions, or the combination of both. Contacting a licensed mental health professional is typically the best way to know how suitable dialectical behavior therapy might be for treating your particular situation. 

What to expect from a DBT session

Depending on the situation, a therapist may recommend solely one-on-one, individual DBT therapy sessions, or one-on-one sessions in addition to group therapy sessions. Individual therapy with a DBT therapist is generally intended to offer you a safe, nonjudgmental space where you can take a look at past emotional reactions, identify where they may have come from, and learn better coping techniques for them in the future. Specific treatment targets are dependent upon each individual’s unique situation; some may focus on radical acceptance, while others may focus on interpersonal skills modules. In general, DBT sessions focus on teaching patients to better understand their emotions and reactions and better cope with hardships. 

Group CBT sessions may also be designed to teach healthier coping mechanisms and offer the opportunity to practice them in a communal setting. 

Learning and implementing mindfulness techniques will likely be an important part of either format since they can help individuals cultivate a nonjudgmental awareness of their emotions as they arise so they can more calmly and effectively. Note that whatever session structure your treatment team decides is best, it’s usually important to stick with it for the duration your DBT consultation team recommends for skills training—often the period of six months or more. This is because DBT focuses on implementing a training method for rewiring how you relate to your own emotions, which can take time to be effective. You may receive homework assignments to bolster your therapy sessions.
iStock/Courtney Hale
Have questions about dialectical behavior therapy?

Seeking out DBT

If you feel that dialectical behavioral therapy could be helpful for you, connecting with a qualified mental health provider to discuss your situation more specifically is usually a good first step. You can search for "DBT therapy near me" to locate a therapist in your area or to see available DBT therapists if you prefer to meet with a therapist in person. Or, if you prefer the convenience of attending therapy sessions from the comfort of your own home, you might consider an online therapy platform like BetterHelp. The therapist you get matched with can evaluate you and let you know if online, individual dialectical behavior therapy sessions might be right for you, or if some other type or format of therapy may be better for your situation. One study suggests that online therapy may be more convenient and as safe and effective as in-person therapeutic treatment. Meeting with a qualified provider can help you find out what the best for you might be.

Takeaway

Dialectical behavior therapy training can be helpful for people in certain situations. Dialectical behavior therapy techniques can help individuals implement new emotion control strategies, and improve interpersonal skills and mindfulness skills. Speaking with a licensed online counselor can help you conclude whether dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive behavioral treatment, comprehensive validation therapy, or some other therapeutic intervention might be most effective for you.

Explore mental health and healing in therapy
The information on this page is not intended to be a substitution for diagnosis, treatment, or informed professional advice. You should not take any action or avoid taking any action without consulting with a qualified mental health professional. For more information, please read our terms of use.
Get the support you need from one of our therapistsGet started