DBT

DBT therapy stands for Dialectical Behavior Therapy. It is a structured, skills-based form of cognitive-behavioral therapy designed to help people manage intense emotions, improve relationships, and reduce self-destructive behaviors.

DBT was developed by Marsha M. Linehan in the late 1980s.

“Dialectical” refers to balancing two opposites at the same time — especially:

• Acceptance (you are doing the best you can)
• Change (you need to learn new skills to improve your life)

There are four core skill areas:

1. Mindfulness – learning to stay present and observe thoughts and feelings without judgment.
2. Distress Tolerance – skills to survive crisis situations without making it worse.
3. Emotion Regulation – understanding and managing intense emotions.
4. Interpersonal Effectiveness – improving communication, boundaries, and relationships.

DBT is skills-focused and structured in its approach.