Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Build a life worth living. DBT provides structured skills training to help you manage intense emotions, improve relationships, & develop lasting stability.
What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy is a structured treatment developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan in the 1980s. Originally created for individuals with borderline personality disorder, DBT has since proven effective for a range of conditions involving emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, and behavioral challenges.
The term dialectical refers to the balance between acceptance and change. DBT teaches you to accept yourself and your current circumstances while simultaneously working toward meaningful change. This balance reduces the internal conflict that often accompanies emotional struggles.
DBT combines elements of cognitive behavioral therapy with mindfulness practices drawn from Zen Buddhism. The result is a treatment that addresses thoughts, behaviors, and emotional experiences through a structured curriculum of learnable skills.
The Four DBT Modules
DBT organizes its skills into four modules. Each module targets a different aspect of functioning and provides tools you can use in daily life.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness forms the foundation of DBT. These skills teach you to observe your thoughts and emotions without judgment, stay present in the current moment, and participate fully in your life. Mindfulness reduces reactivity and creates space between stimulus and response.
Emotional Regulation
Emotional regulation skills help you understand, name, and manage your emotions. You learn to identify what triggers emotional responses, reduce vulnerability to negative emotions, and increase positive experiences. These skills address the intensity and duration of emotional episodes.
Distress Tolerance
Distress tolerance skills provide tools for surviving crisis situations without making things worse. You learn techniques for tolerating pain, self-soothing, and accepting reality as it is. These skills are particularly valuable during moments of intense distress when impulsive actions are most likely.
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Interpersonal effectiveness skills teach you to communicate assertively, set boundaries, and maintain relationships. You learn to ask for what you need, say no when necessary, and balance competing priorities in relationships. These skills reduce conflict and build healthier connections with others.
Conditions Treated with DBT
DBT has proven effective for conditions characterized by emotional instability and behavioral dysregulation. These include borderline personality disorder, chronic suicidal ideation, self-harm behaviors, anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders, substance use disorders, and PTSD. DBT is also helpful for individuals who have not responded to other forms of treatment.
How DBT Differs from CBT
While DBT incorporates cognitive behavioral techniques, several features distinguish it from standard CBT. DBT places greater emphasis on acceptance alongside change, includes mindfulness as a core component, and addresses emotional regulation directly. DBT also typically includes both individual therapy and group skills training, providing a more intensive level of support.
DBT was designed specifically for individuals with high emotional sensitivity and intensity. If you experience emotions more strongly than others, struggle with impulsive behaviors, or have difficulty maintaining stable relationships, DBT may be more appropriate than standard CBT.
Begin DBT at Southside DBT
Southside DBT specializes in dialectical behavior therapy and offers both individual treatment and group skills training. Our therapists have received training in DBT and use evidence-based protocols to guide your treatment. Contact us today to schedule an assessment and learn how DBT can help you build emotional stability and a life worth living.