Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) is a type of talking therapy adapted from CBT for people who experience emotions very intensely.

Like CBT is also helps you to change unhelpful behaviours but focuses on accepting who you are at the same time.

DBT is to help you to lean to manage our difficult emotions by letting yourself experience, recognise and accept them.

Then as you learn to accept and regulate your emotions, you also become more able to change your unhelpful behaviours.

DBT is a balance of opposites acceptance and change techniques.

The 4 key areas of DBT are:

  • Mindfulness- focuses on improving an ability to accept and be present in the current moment.
  • Distress Tolerance- to increase the ability to tolerate negative emotion rather than escaping from it.
  • Emotion Regulation- to manage and change intense emotions that are causing problems.
  • Interpersonal Effectiveness- techniques to allow a person to communicate with others in a way that is assertive, maintains self respect and strengthens relationships.