Have you heard your doctor or therapist recommend DBT but you don’t know what it is yet? Here’s our go-to guide.
What is DBT?
DBT, developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan PhD, is a long-term skills-based therapy for improving emotion regulation skills and decreasing dangerous behaviours (such as self-harm, suicidality, impulsive spending beyond one’s means, and binge drinking). DBT is traditionally used for clients with a complex trauma history, borderline personality disorder, some eating disorders, and drug and alcohol dependence difficulties.
What new skills would I learn from DBT?
- Distress tolerance skills: The ability to get through a crisis without making it worse.
- Emotion regulation skills: The ability to identify, manage, and regulate intense emotions (such as rage, grief, fear, and shame).
- Interpersonal effectiveness skills: The ability to ask for what you need, say no to requests without feeling guilty, build and strengthen important relationships, and improve self-respect.
How is DBT different from other therapies?
A lot of clients come to DBT after having tried many other therapies, which can lead to a feeling that ‘nothing will work.’ However, some therapies are designed only for short-term issues (e.g., exam anxiety or spider phobias) and so are not effective for clients who have had a complex trauma or attachment history. DBT is designed to be a long-term therapy (minimum 1 year) that teaches you to reduce self-harming behaviours, regulate intense emotions, maintain healthy relationships, and improve your relationship with yourself. It is a practical, skills-based, and structured therapy that can help you disentangle complex problems and start building the life that you want with the help of a supportive and non-judgemental therapist as your coach and guide.
How do I access DBT?
Discuss this option with your GP who can write a Mental Health Care Plan referral, allowing you to access a Medicare rebate for your first 10 sessions of each year. Foresight’s principal psychologists, Andreea Heriseanu and Amy Burton, have completed formal training in DBT and routinely provide DBT in their Ultimo based clinic.
If you’re looking for a Sydney DBT Therapist, don’t hesitate to give us a call today at our Ultimo Psychology Clinic. Foresight Psychology Ultimo: 02 8380 8855 / info@foresightpsychology.com
