DBT Explained
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) incorporates strategies from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Zen Principals, and Behavioural Sciences. The goal of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy is to teach our clients to develop healthy ways to regulate their emotions so they can develop emotional intelligence and healthier relationships with other people. Developed by an American Psychologist, Marsha M. Linehan, these strategies are organized into four teachable skill sets:
Mindfulness Skills
Interpersonal Skills
Emotion Regulation Skills
Distress Tolerance Skills
What to Expect
We aim to help clients achieve general skills by employing two treatment modes: skills training and post-session coaching. In order to maximize effectiveness during skills training, flexibility has been built into the program to allow focus on the clients’ individual needs. At any time, skills can be added or dropped from the program based on a partnered approach of clinician recommendation and client feedback. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy is offered at GSWC in two formats:
Weekly Workshop for Skills Training
Three Weekly Individual Follow-ups (for individual coaching and to assess understanding/answer remaining questions related to each skill)
Individual treatment is facilitated through the collaboration of GSWC’s Psychiatrist, adjunct clinicians, and the clients’ Primary Counsellor. The overall goal is to provide clients with the general tools to help them identify and change their current thoughts, emotions, and behaviours causing them everyday distress. DBT at Georgia Straight Women’s Clinic is designed to resolve any percieved contradiction between self-acceptance,