A brief overview of DBT and resources to learn more.
What is DBT?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is very common in the interventional mental health community. In intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) or partial-hospitalization programs, DBT is often one of the most common kinds of therapies practiced. You’ll also see DBT appear frequently in other psychotherapy or talk therapy settings.
DBT is often thought of as a therapy that is particularly useful for borderline personality disorder, as it is one of the few therapies that works well for it.
We find Dialectical Behavior Therapy to be most useful in acute situations when patients are deep in a traumatic moment, or in a very severe anxiety, severe depression, or severe panic. Unlike therapies that are a little slower and more thoughtful, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (where a patient must be able to step back from a situation to look at their thoughts and do a lot of detective work on their own) DBT is really in there with you when you’re having a panic attack or other severe symptoms.
DBT is very focused on grounding yourself in the present moment.
It has many techniques that help bring you down and out of your thoughts, and into your physical body. Techniques include things like putting your hands in ice water, or taking off your shoes and socks to put your feet directly on the ground. It may include an exercise where you notice and count a certain number of things you are hearing, feeling, tasting, and seeing. The aim of DBT is to bring yourself out of your head and into your physical body, which can reduce the sense of being on a cliff’s edge or urgent crisis.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy is very helpful by allowing you to create space and distance from the intensity of a moment or situation. Once that space has been created, patients may be able to engage with some of the more thoughtful therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
Why DBT?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy can be a good choice:
- In acute situations, including crises and for panic attacks
- When structure is needed, for instance when your feelings are disjointed, or a situation feels chaotic, or you feel out of control
- For suicidality or self-harm
- For Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
- To help with impulsivity including substance abuse or gambling
Our recommendations for learning more
Dialectical Behavior Therapy is brilliant in a crisis. It is often accessible through intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) and other partial outpatient programs. Some therapists offer DBT outside of these structured programs. You can also use many of the techniques from this approach on your own. Here are resources to learn more:
Marsha Linehan, the creator of DBT, has written some books on the subject that are available publicly.
The podcast Therapy in a Nutshell features some episodes where the host explains and works through some of the DBT exercises.
There are also free printable PDF workbooks on DBT exercises available online, some of which are linked on our resources pages.
About Us
Wells Medicine is a Houston-based practice designed to provide meaningful care for mental health. Providing targeted interventional treatments for Depression, Anxiety, OCD, PTSD and other conditions, with Ketamine Treatments, Stellate Ganglion Blocks, TMS, and Nitrous-Oxide Treatments. Focused on comprehensive care and integration with Psychiatry, Psychology, and Support Services. We are evidence-based, patient-focused and mission-driven.
The content here is for informational purposes and should not be relied upon for medical decisions. For the details of your specific medical conditions and treatments consult your doctors or other qualified healthcare professionals.
