Sarah! What the heck is… DBT?

Written By Sarah Kalny

Hello! Welcome back to my blog series on therapy jargon!

Most people who seek out therapy have no idea what all the acronyms are and there are A LOT of them!

This collection of blog posts talks about many of the acronyms you may come across while you go throughout your therapy journey.

Today we’re talking about, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, often referred to as DBT.

DBT is another form of talk therapy, similar to CBT, in that it helps clients understand unhelpful patterns of thinking. However, DBT focuses on skill building and education around emotions and social relationships a bit more in-depth than CBT does. I often describe the two interventions as cousins.  

DBT is a very structured form of therapy that comes with handouts and a workbook and if you’re following a strict DBT model in therapy, has both individual and group components.

In DBT, there’s a core component of dialectics, this idea that two opposing truths can exist at the same time, that real life is nuanced and complex, that health fluctuates, and we’re constantly in a state of flux and navigating the world around us, as well as the people in it.

DBT helps clients accept that life is just plain messy, that we’re going to have complex feelings about being in the world, and that we don’t have to allow those emotions to control our lives. It’s about understanding them and knowing how to manage them.

DBT is great for clients who are looking for A LOT of structure and are really focused on building skills in their lives.

DBT is made up for four modules that focus on mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.

DBT can be helpful for a variety of mental health concerns, including:

  • Depression

  • Borderline Personality Disorder

  • PTSD

  • Anxiety

To learn more about DBT, check out the following resources:

Psychology Today. (2014). Dialectical behavior therapy. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/dialectical-behavior-therapy

Corliss, J. (2024, January 22). Dialectical behavior therapy: What is it and who can it help? Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/dialectical-behavior-therapy-what-is-it-and-who-can-it-help-202401223009

For a practical perspective, check out Nikolai Blinow, LMHC’s blog post Why DBT Is Great for Women with ADHD (A Therapist Explains)!

If you think DBT might be for you and you’re interested in exploring more, schedule a free consultation here!

Sarah Kalny
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Sarah! What the heck is… EMDR?