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About DBT.

Young Man in Therapy

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a therapeutic approach designed to help people manage overwhelming emotions and improve their interpersonal relationships. It was initially developed to treat individuals with suicidal ideation and borderline personality disorder (BPD), but it has proven effective for a range of mental health conditions, especially those with severe emotional dys-regulation. It is based on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) principles. CBT is most effective in treating anxiety disorders, somatoform disorders, bulimia, anger control problems, and general stress. CBT and DBT are both types of behavior-based therapies, which means they believe that changing learned behaviors can improve a person's psychological well-being. On the other hand, the psychoanalytic approach focuses on understanding the causes of conflicts to improve mental health.

 

Several studies in the early 1990s showed the effectiveness of DBT, particularly for patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD), a condition characterized by emotional regulation issues due to biological factors and challenging life experiences. Over time, DBT has been used to treat other conditions, such as substance use disorders, eating disorders, depression, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, as it is believed that emotional dysregulation is present in many mental illnesses.

 

The therapy is based on the concept of dialectics, which means finding a balance between accepting oneself while striving for positive change.  It is different to psychoanalytic therapy, where therapists try to uncover the psychological reason for the mental illness and help resolve it. DBT, on the other hand, teaches skills that alter the way you think, feel and behave. 

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DBT Four Main Skills

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Mindfulness helps individuals stay present in the moment and be aware of their thoughts and emotions

Emotion Regulation helps in understanding and managing intense emotions

Distress Tolerance equips them to cope with crises and difficult situations without resorting to harmful behaviours

Interpersonal Effectiveness enhances communication and relationship skills

DBT is collaborative, empowering clients to set their own treatment goals while offering practical strategies to handle daily challenges. The therapist provides validation and support, helping clients feel understood and motivated. The focus on acceptance and change fosters personal growth and emotional resilience. Overall, DBT is a compassionate and effective therapy that builds individuals with valuable skills to lead more balanced and fulfilling lives. 

 

​At AYZA Health we support your care with interactive and engaging online DBT groups. We provide DBT skills training using a series of videos, readings and dairies/worksheets done as homework and then we integrate this in shared experiences using weekly synchronous online meetings, all over 8 weeks. We also have a patient family version with four synchronous online meetings over the same period to help the family of patients to navigate the skills development and healing.

Week
Individual DBT
Family DBT
1. Introduction
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2. Mindfulness
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3. Distress Tolerance
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4. Emotional Regulation
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5. Emotional Regulation
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6. Interpersonal Effectiveness
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7. Interpersonal Effectiveness
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8. Summary & Conclusion
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To purchase the DBT course, see our Services. We currently run a package for Individual DBT and Family DBT, see Plans & Pricing.

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See frequently asked questions so that you can understand this therapy better.

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See a summary of the research with peer-reviewed publications prepared for referring health professionals.

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