DBT

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Overview
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a research-based cognitive-behavioral treatment developed by Marsha Linehan at the University of Washington. Originally aimed at addressing suicidal and self-harm behaviors in individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), DBT has since been adapted for various complex mental health disorders involving emotional dysregulation, including:

• Dual diagnoses
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Eating disorders
• Severe mood disorders (e.g., Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Major Depression)

Many clients with these conditions struggle to manage emotional and relational crises due to insufficient coping skills.

Core Principles
DBT employs both acceptance and change strategies, encouraging clients and therapists to find a balance between accepting reality and committing to change. The therapy is ideally conducted in a warm and validating environment that challenges clients to foster behavioral change and reduce harmful behaviors. The ultimate aim is to help clients create “a life worth living.”

Key Components of Effective DBT
Research indicates that DBT is most effective when it includes:

1. Individual DBT Psychotherapy
2. Weekly DBT Skills Training Groups
3. As-needed Telephone Coaching for skill application in real-life situations

Melinda Carlisle’s Practice
Melinda Carlisle is an intensively trained DBT Therapist and Skills Trainer who participates in a DBT consultation team. Her program encompasses all essential elements of the research-based DBT model.

DBT Skills Training Groups

Weekly DBT skills training groups utilize a structured format to teach four core skill sets:

1. Mindfulness:
   Gain control over your thoughts through observation and participation from a nonjudgmental perspective, leading to more meaningful experiences in the present.
2. Interpersonal Effectiveness:
   Learn to communicate effectively while maintaining personal objectives, relationships, and self-respect.
3. Emotion Regulation:
   Understand the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, while recognizing vulnerability factors like sleep, nutrition, and self-care to better manage emotions.
4. Distress Tolerance:
   Develop strategies to cope with difficult situations without worsening them, employing techniques like distraction, radical acceptance, and pros and cons analysis.

These topics are taught through presentations, discussions, handouts, structured homework, and review sessions.

Additional Offerings

• DBT for Couples   

• DBT Skills for Parents and Families
• DBT Skills for Neurodiverse People 

Through DBT, clients can acquire essential skills that empower them to navigate complex emotional situations and improve their relationships.