The last week of October was a break from groups for us here at the hospital. I took a much needed day off on Monday of break week, then dived right in to two full days of DBT training!
DBT stands for Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. It is a therapeutic style that was derived by a psychologist named Marsha Linehan when CBT did more harm than good at treating certain patients, especially those with intense emotional dysregulation or trauma histories. DBT is most commonly used as a treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder, or BPD.
I had heard of and had some experience with DBT before, but this training was really useful for me. I learned a lot about patients with BPD as well as about dialectics and DBT techniques.
I learned that BPD is the personality disorder most associated with both attempted and completed suicide, while an estimated 80% of people with BPD self-harm (or NSSI - non-suicidal self-injury) in some way. These patients have a pervasive disorder of their emotional regulation system; behaviors such as self-harm are their way of attempting to emotionally regulate, a "solution" to regulate their emotions.
DBT seeks to change thoughts and behavior patterns, and emotionally validate individuals receiving services. It balances clients' need for acceptance and validation and their need to change behavior patterns. DBT services include Skills Groups, individual therapy sessions, consultation to therapists and facilitators, consultation or coaching to the clients, and Behavior Change Protocol.
Some of the aspects I really liked about DBT:
DBT stands for Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. It is a therapeutic style that was derived by a psychologist named Marsha Linehan when CBT did more harm than good at treating certain patients, especially those with intense emotional dysregulation or trauma histories. DBT is most commonly used as a treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder, or BPD.
I had heard of and had some experience with DBT before, but this training was really useful for me. I learned a lot about patients with BPD as well as about dialectics and DBT techniques.
I learned that BPD is the personality disorder most associated with both attempted and completed suicide, while an estimated 80% of people with BPD self-harm (or NSSI - non-suicidal self-injury) in some way. These patients have a pervasive disorder of their emotional regulation system; behaviors such as self-harm are their way of attempting to emotionally regulate, a "solution" to regulate their emotions.
DBT seeks to change thoughts and behavior patterns, and emotionally validate individuals receiving services. It balances clients' need for acceptance and validation and their need to change behavior patterns. DBT services include Skills Groups, individual therapy sessions, consultation to therapists and facilitators, consultation or coaching to the clients, and Behavior Change Protocol.
Some of the aspects I really liked about DBT:
- How client-centered it is: This whole therapy style validates and accepts clients where they are at, while still encouraging them to change maladaptive or ineffective behaviors. It validates the person as separate from the disorder they have been labeled with.
- The goal of DBT is to help clients create a life worth living. In reality, that's all anyone wants, but a lot of clients in the psychiatric system have lost hope of that happening.
- Focus on intervention rather than prevention. We help clients learn the skills they need to cope and to emotionally regulate, rather than doing everything for them.
- Studies on DBT programs show significant reductions in NSSI, treatment dropout, anger, depression, substance abuse, anxiety, dissociation, etc. etc. etc. for patients AND reduction of staff burn-out and hostility towards staff. It's super effective!
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