What's DBT you may ask?
The term "Dialectical" suggests trying to realize how two concepts contrast can be true like appreciating who you are and evolving can country. However, with the help of DBT, a person can achieve both qualities. Dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) is a communication therapy. As it is centred around cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) but targeted towards patients who experience their emotions intensely. Although CBT focuses on helping the patient shift unwanted thoughts and behaviors, DBT also follows this concept. However, DBT emphasizes accepting who you are and includes group work rather than CBT. The purpose of DBT is to ensure that patients:
Understand and come to terms with their feelings.
Learn new qualities to deal with their emotions
To make better changes in your life.
As you can see, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy treats problems such as suicidal thoughts, depression and anxiety as well as self-harm. However, DBT is oriented around Borderline personality disorder (BPD).
DBT is more likely to help you if:
You're determined to transform yourself for the better.
You're prepared to put in a lot of effort in treatment and on your homework.
You're prepared to put more emphasis on your present and future than your history.
You believe you can participate in a few classes in group settings with others.
Group work is enjoyable for some people, but challenging for others. Although working one-on-one with a DBT therapist could be ideal, it is regrettable that this choice is not always available. To figure out what is offered in your region, discuss with your doctor which options you would find most useful. It's crucial to keep in mind that each person experiences therapy uniquely.
AN INSIGHT TO DBT SESSIONS
As you’ve read on, you’ve gathered the concepts around DBT, though you’re still wondering what DBT sessions are like?
DBT can change depending on the source and the location. However, the following sorts of sessions are typically included in a DBT course:
DBT PRE-TREATMENT
You might be offered an evaluation or the DBT pre-treatment stage by some therapists. Here, the therapist will assess whether DBT is a good fit for you. They might provide you with numerous sessions in which you can become familiar with the DBT methodology. They will then ask you to commit to the counselling if you determine it is the best course of action for you.
INDIVIDUAL THERAPY
Typically, DBT therapists do weekly one-on-one sessions with clients as part of individual treatment. The time for each session is between 45 to 60 minutes.
There is a hierarchy of objectives in the individual sessions:
To decrease self-harming and suicidal conduct in order to keep you safe. To minimise therapeutic interference-causing behaviours.
to remove the obstacles standing in your way in order to assist you in achieving your goals and enhance your quality of life. Other mental health issues like depression or voices being heard could be the cause of this and it could be private problems like work or relationship difficulties.
to assist you in replacing unhelpful behaviour with new skills that will help you accomplish your goals.
As assignments, your DBT therapist might require you to complete diary cards in order to bring them to sessions. You should use this to keep tabs on your feelings and behaviour as you search for pattern and triggers throughout your life. Following that, you select collectively which tasks you are going to focus on during each session using this knowledge.
SKILLS TRAINING IN GROUPS
DBT therapists will impart skills to you in a group environment during these sessions. This feels more as a series of educational sessions than group therapy.
A group normally has two therapists, and sessions could happen once per week. Sometimes the space is set out like a classroom, with your skilled instructors seated in the front. You will learn skills that you can use in your daily life during these sessions.
Usually, there are four skill modules:
MINDFULNESS - Where a collection of abilities that help you concentrate on the here and now instead of dwelling on past events or the future.
A module on mindfulness might be combined with other modules. DBT sessions may frequently begin with a brief practice in mindfulness.
DISTRESS TOLERANCE - This entails learning how to handle pressure without engaging in destructive habits like self-harm.
Relationship effectiveness. This is developing the ability to respectfully decline requests from others and ask for what you want for yourself.
EMOTION REGULATION - You can utilise this collection of abilities to comprehend, become more conscious of, and exert greater authority over your emotions.
Your therapist could invite you to participate in group activities and role-play during group sessions.
TELEPHONE CRISIS COACHING
DBT frequently employs telephone crisis coaching to assist you with your daily activities. In between sessions, you can therefore phone your therapist for help. For instance:
If you want to utilize DBT techniques but need some guidance on how to do it when you need assistance dealing with an emergency crisis (such as feeling suicidal or desiring to damage yourself), or when you need to mend fences with your therapist.
However, you can anticipate that your therapist will clearly define some parameters for this. For instance, calls should only be made during the hours you agree upon with them. In some cases, they may even request that you await 24 hours prior calling them.
ACCEPTANCE AND CHANGE STRATEGIES
Acceptance strategies emphasise on knowing who you are as a person Understanding the motivations behind behaviours like self-harm and drug abuse
For instance, a DBT therapist would say that you haven't had any other coping mechanisms for dealing with intense emotions. Therefore, your activity makes sense even though it could be alarming to others and is harmful in the long run. Whereas, changing approaches focus on the main goal of change approaches is to switch harmful behaviors for helpful ones. It could imply that your therapist: confronts your harmful thoughts and motivates you to find unique methods of coping with anxiety.
You may be wondering how you can get DBT
DBT is mostly accessed via the NHS with a doctor or mental health service referral or by the private sector.
I hope this information on DBT was able to give you an insight on whether DBT is an appropriate treatment and remember we care about your mental well-being.