Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) was developed by Marsha M. Linehan, a psychologist at the University of Washington and is aimed at treating problems with emotion regulation. DBT balances the use of change and acceptance techniques, combining CBT skills with mindfulness-based strategies.

The treatment aims to address difficulties in the following areas:

• regulating emotions
• impulse control
• building and maintaining positive relationships
• tolerating distress

In the adolescent model, ways to more effectively manage the difficulties that occur between adolescents and their parents/guardians are taught.

Clients learn cognitive behavioral and mindfulness skills to better identify, label and manage their emotions. They then practice those skills everyday, learning how to better tolerate life events and improve their interactions with others.

DBT is a multi-component therapy, which consists of three parts:

1. weekly individual therapy
2. weekly skills training, either in a group, individually or with his/her family (to be determined by therapist)
3. phone coaching by the individual therapist on the use of skills in everyday life situations.

Although originally developed to treat suicidal, self-injuring adults, DBT has since been adapted to treat a variety of other problem areas. Drs. Alec Miller and Jill Rathus adapted DBT for use with multi-problem, suicidal adolescents, and it is this mode of treatment employed by Hartstein Psychological Services.

For more information about DBT, please go to the following website: www.behaviortech.org