In my practice I am trained in a a therapeutic practice called Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). This form of therapy is an evidence-based psychotherapy that began in order to treat personality disorders. Evidence developed that it became helpful with mood disorders and suicidal ideation. It is also used in self-harm and substance abuse.
DBT evolved into a process in which the therapist and client work with acceptance and change-oriented strategies and ultimately balance and synthesize them. The creator, Marsha Linehan, defined DBT as synthesis or integration of opposites. DBT was designed to help people increase their emotional and cognitive regulation by learning triggers that led to reactive states and by helping to assess which coping skills to apply in the sequence of events, thoughts, feelings, and behaviours to help avoid undesired reactions.
The therapy, DBT, grew out of recognizing the failing of another form of therapy Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) specifically in the treatment of chronically suicidal clients. DBT combines cognitive behaviour techniques with emotional regulation and reality testing concepts of distress tolerance, acceptance, and mindful awareness largely derived from contemplative meditative practices.
Through validating the clients’ feelings of acceptance of who they are occurs. The broader goal for the client is to find emotional regulation. It is thought that some of these behaviours can be caused by biological predisposition for emotional dysregulation, and their social environment validates maladaptive behaviour.
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Ref: course notes and Wikipedia