What Issues Does DBT Help With?
People often think about DBT therapy in relation to borderline personality disorder (BPD). This connection is valid as DBT was originally developed by Marsha Linehan, PhD in the 80’s as a treatment for BPD. However, since that time DBT has shown to be effective for many other issues. Behavioral Tech (the official training center of DBT) states that DBT has shown to be effective in treating the below conditions in at least one randomized controlled trial:
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Major Depression
Bipolar Disorder
Binge Eating Disorder
Bulimia Nervosa
Substance Use Disorder
In addition to the above conditions, DBT continues to be researched and the list of conditions for which DBT helps continues to grow. Some of these other issues include anxiety, impulse control, relationship issues, and more.
Why is DBT so effective
DBT therapy is effective because it is both theoretical and actionable. Not only does a client learn a new of thinking, but they also learn new skills to effectively manage life stressors. Check out these skills to see what we are talking about: Diary Card and Chain Analysis.
Moreover, DBT is multidimensional in its approach. There are four main pillars of DBT. They include distress tolerance, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness. Within each of these sections there are dozens of skills, tools, and principals to be learned. DBT therapy is also broad in its scope. For example, most people, no matter the issue, can benefit from distress tolerance skills. Additionally, almost any mental health issue is going to impact areas of distress, relationships, emotion regulation, and mindfulness. Due to the expansive reach of the skills and theories, DBT is effective for many conditions.
Next steps
DBT therapy can be helpful for almost anyone. At PRGRS Therapy, we utilize DBT as one of our main modalities to help clients achieve their goals. This is because it actually works. If you are interested in learning more about DBT and how it can help you, schedule your free 15 min consultation today.
