Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) for teens and young women
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy that was originally developed to treat individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD). However, it has since been adapted for use in treating various other mental health conditions and has proven to be effective in a wide range of contexts. Here are some of the benefits of DBT:
Emotion Regulation: DBT helps individuals develop skills for regulating intense emotions. This is particularly helpful for people with BPD who often experience intense mood swings, but it can also benefit those with other mood disorders or emotional dysregulation.
Interpersonal Effectiveness: DBT teaches individuals how to effectively communicate and assert themselves in relationships. This can improve relationship quality, reduce conflicts, and enhance overall interpersonal functioning.
Distress Tolerance: DBT equips individuals with techniques to tolerate distressing situations without resorting to self-destructive or impulsive behaviors. These skills are valuable for managing crises and reducing impulsive behaviors such as self-harm or substance abuse.
Mindfulness: DBT incorporates mindfulness practices to help individuals stay present in the moment, increase self-awareness, and reduce rumination about the past or anxiety about the future. Mindfulness can improve overall well-being and reduce emotional suffering.
Coping with Trauma: DBT can be adapted to help individuals who have experienced trauma. It provides tools for managing trauma-related symptoms and processing traumatic experiences in a safe and structured manner.
Reduced Self-Harm and Suicidal Behavior: One of the original goals of DBT was to reduce self-harming behaviors and suicidal ideation in individuals with BPD. Research has shown that it can be highly effective in achieving this goal.
Improved Quality of Life: DBT can lead to an improved overall quality of life by helping individuals manage their emotions, build better relationships, and reduce self-destructive behaviors.
Adaptability: DBT is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Therapists can adapt it to meet the specific needs of each individual, making it applicable to various mental health conditions beyond BPD, such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and substance abuse.
Empowerment: DBT encourages individuals to take an active role in their treatment and empowers them to make positive changes in their lives. This sense of agency can be motivating and lead to lasting improvements.
Long-Term Success: Research has shown that the benefits of DBT can be long-lasting. Individuals who complete DBT often experience ongoing improvements in their mental health and well-being.
It's important to note that DBT is typically delivered in a structured format, often involving individual therapy, group skills training, phone coaching, and therapist consultation teams. The combination of these elements contributes to its effectiveness. DBT can be especially helpful if CBT alone has historically not been as effective for treatment. Halle Crutch provides DBT programming as well as uses DBT techniques in therapy practice, depending on the needs of the client. Interested to see if DBT would be good for you?