Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a specific type of CBT that balances acceptance-based strategies with behavior change-based strategies. This balance reflects the concept of the dialectic, or the simultaneous occurrence of two things that seem opposite but that exist at the same time (often represented by the yin-yang symbol).
Providers at the Center serve as individual dialectical behavior therapists for clients who are participating in DBT groups at other treatment facilities. Moreover, providers at the Center incorporate many of the DBT skills (i.e., mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance) into their individualized CBT work.
DBT was originally developed for people with borderline personality disorder who engage in self-harm behavior. However, it has since been found to be effective for a host of mental health issues, including more general depression and anxiety.
You can read more about DBT from these sources:
- From WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/dialectical-behavioral-therapy
- From Behavioral Tech, the premier organization that trains providers to deliver DBT: https://behavioraltech.org/resources/faqs/dialectical-behavior-therapy-dbt/