Individual DBT Therapy Individual DBT therapy involves weekly sessions. Each session lasts 60 minutes. The goals of Individual DBT therapy are:
To help keep you safe by reducing suicidal and self harming behaviours, if applicable.
To limit behaviours that get in the way of productive therapy
To help you reach your goals and improve your quality of life be addressing what's blocking your progress, such as mental health conditions or relationship issues.
To help you learn new skills to replace unhelpful behaviours.
Sometimes keeping a journal or diary can be very helpful in allowing you to track your emotions and actions and to look for patterns of behaviour. We can discuss this during sessions.
DBT Skills Training DBT skills aim to help enhance your capabilities in day to day life. The four skills I will teach you include:
Mindfulness: This is the practice of being fully aware and focused in the present instead of worrying about the past or the future.
Distress tolerance: This involves understanding and managing your emotions in difficult or stressful situations without responding with harmful behaviours.
Interpersonal effective: This means understanding how to ask for what you want and need and setting boundaries while maintaining respect for yourself and others
Emotional regulation: This means understanding, being more aware of and having more control over your emotions.
However, DBT is not for everyone and it can be very difficult. DBT is more likely to work for you if you:
Are committed to making positive changes
Are ready to fully commit to therapy and do a little homework
Are ready to focus mostly on your present and future, rather than your past.
The four modules of psychological and emotional function that DBT focusses on include: Mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance and emotion regulation.
If your emotions interfere with your relationships, work, school or goals, it may be a sign that DBT could be right for you. If your emotions feel out of control, overwhelming or debilitating, DBT may also be helpful.