Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy tries to identify and change negative thinking patterns and pushes for positive behavioral changes.  DBT may be used to treat suicidal and other self-destructive behaviors. 

It teaches clients skills to cope with and change unhealthy behaviors.

 What Conditions Does DBT Treat?

Dialectical behavioral therapy focuses on high-risk, tough-to-treat clients. These clients often have multiple diagnoses.

DBT was initially designed to treat people with suicidal behavior and borderline personality disorder, but it has been adapted for other mental health problems that threaten a person's safety, relationships, work, and emotional well-being.

Comprehensive DBT focuses on four ways to enhance life skills:

• Distress tolerance: Feeling intense emotions like anger without reacting impulsively or using self-injury or substance abuse to dampen distress.
• Emotion regulation: Recognizing, labeling, and adjusting emotions.
• Mindfulness: Becoming more aware of self and others and attentive to the present moment.
• Interpersonal effectiveness: Navigating conflict and interacting assertively.