Understanding Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
Understanding the concept
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) combines acceptance with change and teaches skills often grouped as mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Full-program DBT has a specific structure; use of DBT-informed skills alone is not the same as a comprehensive DBT program.
What this might look like
A person might practice pausing and identifying urges before responding to a distressing message.
A question to reflect on
Which is most difficult right now: tolerating distress, naming emotions, or asking for what you need?
Research & further reading
- NICE (2009). Borderline personality disorder: Recognition and management (CG78).
- National Institute of Mental Health. Psychotherapies: Finding a therapist and understanding treatment.
These sources offer background reading and do not necessarily substantiate every sentence in this article. This is educational information, not diagnosis or personalized advice. Content should be clinician-reviewed prior to public launch.