How DBT Can Help With Mental Health Issues
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) was developed by Marsha Linehan in the late 1980s to help treat borderline personality disorder (BPD), but it’s also used in treatment centers around the world to help manage mental health issues like depression, anxiety, PTSD, and even schizophrenia. What does DBT offer that other therapies do not? And why has it risen in popularity over the last few decades? Find out all about DBT and how it can be applied to help improve your mental health below.
1) What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy is a form of therapy based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). It was developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan in collaboration with other experts and researchers at The University of Washington. The first dialectical behavior therapy program began operating in 1993 for women who were diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, a severe mental health condition that results in a distorted view of reality and an increased risk for self-harm and suicide. Research has shown that CBT can be effective for other mental illnesses as well, including depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse problems, eating disorders and PTSD. However, as Dr.
2) What Should I Know About Dialectical Behavior Therapy?
Dialectical behavior therapy is a treatment approach that’s used to treat borderline personality disorder, eating disorders, anxiety disorders and mood disorders. The ultimate goal of dialectical behavior therapy is to assist people in living healthy, balanced lives by teaching them how to effectively manage their emotions. What are some other effective treatments for mental health issues? There are many different approaches that may be helpful when treating mental health illnesses. Talk with your doctor about how best to move forward after being diagnosed with a mental illness. You can choose to pursue treatment on your own or work with a qualified therapist who can help you learn new skills.
3) How Does DBT Treat Mental Health Problems?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based treatment program that was developed by Marsha Linehan in order to treat patients with borderline personality disorder. It has since expanded to treat patients with other mental health issues, including depression, eating disorders, and substance abuse problems. It’s based on principles of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), though it utilizes many of its own specific techniques to tackle particular symptoms or issues.
4) Is There a Difference Between CBT and DBT?
If you’re suffering from a mental health disorder, chances are you’ve either considered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). There is a lot of confusion and misinformation about these treatments and what makes them different. So let’s clear that up. The best way to understand how they work is to start with what they have in common. Both are based on Cognitive Theory, which assumes that distorted thoughts are at the root of maladaptive behaviors. As opposed to traditional therapy methods, CBT works by teaching you specific skills so that you can monitor your thoughts and respond more appropriately when anxious or stressed. Using daily monitoring logs, you learn to recognize patterns in thinking that may be causing some of your distress. Once you identify these distortions, you learn techniques like deep breathing and rational response training for recognizing thoughts without taking them literally. Then, over time, it becomes easier for you to redirect anxious emotions into positive actions rather than negative ones. Next comes behavior modification—in other words changing some of your automatic responses using triggers like certain people or places (which often lead us back to self-destructive habits like substance abuse). By learning alternative ways of coping ahead of time, it gets easier for us to react less impulsively when we get triggered; hopefully reducing stress-inducing events that could lead down an unhealthy path.
