What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a treatment that was developed in the early 1990s by Marsha LInehan. It is a psychosocial treatment that was originally developed for individuals who have Borderline Personality Disorder, although it is used for many other mental health disorders at present. Its focus is to decrease the distress caused by an individuals difficulty in regulating his or her emotions, thoughts, behaviors, relationships, or sense of self. DBT is a method combining individual therapy and skills teaching and reinforcement and skills coaching by therapists outside of therapy sessions that will help in this task.