4 Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) Essentials

Originally recognized as a form of cognitive behavioural treatment, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) was developed to treat border personality disorders but was soon found to be effective in reaching a variety of individuals with a wide range of mental disorders. The therapy worked from the inside out. By becoming more self-aware, the client was taught to act upon a thought or emotion rather than react to it. This thought awareness is believed to slowly change behaviour patterns and may allow the client to control their impulses. For this reason, mental health care providers such as social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists find DBT education essential in their therapy tools. Consequently, professionals often look for DBT training online to stay informed on the latest theories and therapies. This training includes four essentials cognitive skills sets.

Acceptance and Tolerance

Instead of removing the life stressors, DBT encourages the client to acknowledge what they are feeling, accept that emotion and realize the emotion or stressor signal should be "owned" and understood. This acceptance allows the individual to see themselves as unique, not damaged.

Perfection isn’t Perfect

There is a wide spread philosophy in modern life which claims the grass is always greener in the yard next door. Many clients transfer this philosophy onto their friends and associates by claiming the other person is more perfect, more beautiful and more talented. Psychology CEU (continuing education) helps teach the health care worker how to best demonstrate to the client that the feelings of inadequacy and lack of self-respect eating away at them are making the client unable to have meaningful relationships. By becoming aware of whom they are and what they believe, the client may appreciate themselves and begin to develop a positive picture.

Emotions Aren’t Forever

Depressions, sadness and suicidal thoughts are based on emotions which are constantly changing and adapting to the social environment the client is in. Accepting the emotions and thoughts is only the first step in learning to deal with them. Acting-out in response to those feelings can be debilitating to a person already feeling lost and alone. DBT training online can help the professional identify skills to assist their client in learning to handle responses to difficult situations. This is especially true of destructive behavioural urges born of intense anger or pain.

Eliminate the Rejection

Skills developed around interpersonal interaction can be difficult to teach because they are generally learned over the course of a lifetime. When the client needs help with abandonment, parental loss or even rejection, it may be extremely complicated to get them to understand their needs can be met even if someone tells them no, or denies their requests. For this reason, clients are taught to understand what they need and to ask for that need to be fulfilled. Additionally, the client is taught how to say "no" and realize it is okay to do so.

Individuality is Essential

Every client is unique, and so are their problems, concerns and needs. For this reason, the mental health professional needs to seek continuing education to learn new therapies. One of the best sources is DBT training online. By learning from experts in the field, the professional can help their client heal from the inside out while maintaining their individuality.

John Trinh has been writing for 10+ years. He first delved into the world of writing when he wrote his first article for his university's paper.