What is a Therapeutic Approach Anyway? Understanding DBT

Last week, we talked about Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and how this approach to therapy focuses on changing your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This week we will be discussing Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT. Similarly to CBT, DBT also focuses on cognitive behavioral approaches.

Dialectical means that two opposing views can be true at the same time. For example, it can be raining outside and be sunny; you can be depressed and at times feel happy. DBT focuses on the whole person and emphasizes how our cultural contexts influence our thoughts, behaviors, and feelings. Essentially, CBT has a greater emphasis on cognitive processes such as diagnoses and making behavioral change while DBT focuses on how cognition can change through contexts, culture, memories, and bodily sensations.

DBT also focuses on the middle ground. DBT therapists believe in a balance of acceptance and change. For example, if you are depressed, CBT would say that yes, you ARE depressed and here’s how you can change. On the other hand, DBT says you are EXPERIENCING depression and a change can occur. A therapist will try to help a client see the tensions in their lives and have them look for the middle ground.

DBT uses three main techniques, and within these techniques there are many different skills you can learn! The three main techniques include mindfulness, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance. Our next post will go more in depth into DBT and the unique skills you may be taught!