Posted by NikkiT2 on March 24, 2006, at 17:01:16
In reply to What Is DBT Theraphy?, posted by Phillipa on March 24, 2006, at 0:16:07
To save re-inventing the wheel, I shall C&P the contents of a leaflet I wrote for work called "What is DBT".. I would link to it, but it includes my real name, and contact details which I'm obviously not too keen to share in public!!
I hope it is some help
N xx
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What is DBT?
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) was initially developed for people who self-harm and feel suicidal. Many of these people had been diagnosed Borderline Personality Disorder.
Dialectics is a way of thinking about people in relation to what is going on around them. For example if someone is struggling with difficult feelings, DBT could address how her relationships with family members and friends affect her feelings.
In DBT behaviour refers to anything a person feels, thinks or does.
Who is DBT for?
DBT is helpful for people with a Personality Disorder who may also experience: anxiety, depression, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse.
What kind of therapy do clients receive?
Clients in DBT are offered three different types of treatment.
Clients meet with a DBT therapist once a week for individual therapy.
They attend a skills training group weekly for a year. The group lasts for 2 hours with a break in the middle.
Telephone coaching during, and out of hours, is also available.The idea behind this is to receive support when it is most needed and to be able to get advice in order to prevent crises from escalating.
What are the aims of treatment in DBT?
The most important goal in DBT is to support clients to reduce chaos and self defeating behaviours. In therapy clients and therapists work together to develop the skills and understanding necessary to manage difficult emotions, develop good quality relationships and to encourage activities that build self esteem and contentedness.
In skills training clients are taught to:
Understand how the mind works and to be able to take hold of ones mind (mindfulness)
Learn skills that help with relating to others (interpersonal effectiveness)
Understand difficult feelings and learn how to manage them (emotional regulation)
Learn skills to survive crises and to prevent them from escalating (distress tolerance)
Does it work?DBT has been researched in clinical studies. There is evidence that DBT works and as a result of this it is now used with teenagers and older people in addition to adults.
Further Information on DBT
http://www.behavioraltech.com/
Skills Training Manual for Treating Borderline Personality Disorder
Marsha Linehan
ISBN 0898620341
poster:NikkiT2
thread:624046
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20060312/msgs/624243.html