Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): What it is and how it is useful in people’s daily lives

Summary: Denise Kearns, RN is the Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Program Manager & Treatment Care Coordinator at Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, CT. Ms. Kearns completed DBT Intensive Training in 1996 and has practiced DBT in outpatient, inpatient and residential settings. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a treatment developed by Marsha M. Linehan specifically to treat individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD). It is based largely in behaviorist theory with cognitive elements. DBT also incorporates mindfulness practice. There are two essential parts of DBT: 1. Individual: in which weekly issues are discussed & recorded on diary cards. The therapist and client work towards improving skill use; 2. Group: Specific skills are learned and practiced: core mindfulness, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness and distress tolerance. The skills learned in DBT are being applied widely, as they help in anyone’s goal for being more effective in relationships and life!