Dialectical

• When humans get into places of extremes, the result is misery and suffering. Examples:

  • Being too hot or too cold

  • Having too much or too little to do

  • Being overwhelmed with fear or having no fear at all

• Getting balance in thoughts, emotions and actions

• A way to decrease polarization and/or conflict with others

 

Behavioral

• Present focused. DBT works in renewable contracts that are typically 12 months in length. There are three stages to treatment:

  • Stage 1 is about getting in control of your behavior and changing your life right now.

  • Stage 2 focuses on PTSD or any behaviors that increase suffering or misery by avoidance. Here we may treat issues from your past as they are showing up in the present.

  • Stage 3 consolidate what you have done in stages 1 and 2, and works at problem-solving any remaining behaviors. It also sets the goals for your life outside of therapy.

• Changing problem behaviors by learning skills

• In every session, you will practice new behaviors

 

Therapy

• In order to be true DBT treatment, there are four components that must be present: 

  1. Group skills training: once a week for approximately two hours. The format is a mindfulness practice, review of your practice from the week before, break in teaching of new materials. 

  2. Individual psychotherapy: once a week for 45 to 60 minutes. The therapist helps you decide your goals for life, what behaviors you want to increase and decrease, and helps you apply what you are learning in group into your life.

  3. Coaching via telephone, text or email: between sessions, you have access to your therapist, mostly for coaching. 

  4. Clients don’t participate in the fourth motive treatment. DBT is a complex treatment and it’s hard to do. All of the people who do DBT meet once a week to help each other. The purpose of the team is not to talk about you or your “case.” It is to help your therapists.