Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) is a type of talk therapy for people who experience emotions very intensely. It’s a common therapy for people with borderline personality disorder, but therapists provide it for other mental health conditions as well.

DBT focuses on teaching people skills to manage intense emotions, cope with challenging situations, and improve their relationships. It encourages people to learn and use mindfulness training in practical ways.

DBT has proven to be effective for treating and managing a wide range of mental health conditions, including:

  • Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Substance use disorder
  • Depression
  • Anxiety and worries (such as generalised anxiety disorder)
  • Obsessive compulsive disorder
  • Suicidal behaviour
  • Eating disorders (such as anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and bulimia nervosa)

It’s important to note that the reason DBT has proved effective for treating these conditions is that each of these conditions is thought to be associated with issues that result from unhealthy or problematic efforts to control intense, negative emotions. Rather than depending on efforts that cause problems for the person, DBT helps people learn healthier ways to cope.

DBT skills aim to help enhance your capabilities in day-to-day life. The four skills your therapist will teach include:

Mindfulness: This is the practice of being fully aware and focused in the present instead of worrying about the past or future. Mindfulness is central to DBT. With mindfulness we learn to be in the present moment. Often symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress come from worries about the future or negative thoughts about the past. DBT asserts that one moment at a time is enough for any of us to handle. Mindfulness skills are also important to other skills learned in DBT.

Distress tolerance: This involves understanding and managing your emotions in difficult or stressful situations without responding with harmful behaviours.

There are two types of distress tolerance skills: crisis survival and acceptance skills.

Interpersonal effectiveness: Interpersonal effectiveness helps you to become more assertive in a relationship (for example, expressing your needs and be able to say “no”) while still keeping a relationship positive and healthy. You will learn to listen and communicate more effectively, deal with challenging people, and respect yourself and others. Interpersonal effectiveness skills can be used in our closest relationships, including family, romantic relationships or friendships. They can also be utilised in any interaction we have with others, such as a conversation at the grocery store.

Emotion Regulation Skills: Emotion regulation lets you navigate powerful feelings in a more effective way. The skills you learn will help you to identify, name, and change your emotions. This means understanding, being more aware of and having more control over your emotions. When you are able to recognise and cope with intense negative emotions (for example, anger), it reduces your emotional vulnerability and helps you have more positive emotional experiences.

DBT Informed Therapy

DBT-informed treatment incorporates the principles of DBT but doesn’t require all the aspects or stages of the complete program. With this approach, only the methods that are most needed are used. In DBT-informed, different training and skills can be utilised to meet the individual needs of a client rather than moving through specific stages. DBT Informed Therapy can be helpful for individuals with anxiety disorders, depression, mood disorders, trauma, and life transitions and stressors.

DBT Informed Therapy at Sehat Psychology

At Sehat Psychology, we offer DBT-informed therapy which is a one-to-one therapy for clients with a range of issues.

This is not ‘standard DBT’ – which is an intensive therapy, delivered in teams and comprising individual therapy, group skills training, telephone skill coaching and weekly team consultation meetings – but is CBT with as many elements of DBT integrated into it as possible.

The DBT-informed therapy offered at Sehat Psychology comprises individual therapy sessions. While this therapy is not ‘standard DBT’, it is organised on the same philosophical and treatment principles, structured in the same way, and contains the same skills training modules.

Adelaide Psychologists & Therapists | DBT Counselling & Therapy Adelaide

We are at Sehat Psychology, Credential DBT clinician from Australian DBT institute that demonstrate our expertise in one of the most evidence-based psychotherapy treatments.  You can contact us on (08) 7079 9529 or email admin@sehatpsychology.com.au to book an appointment  (telehealth or face to face) with our DBT therapist.

Online Dialectical Behaviour Therapy/DBT Australia | DBT Psychologists & Therapists

Our treatment team of therapists stands out as being expert in the field of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), a proven and effective approach for treating a wide range of mental health conditions. With extensive experience and a deep understanding of the complexities of psychological issues, our clinic is committed to guiding you through your journey to emotional well-being.