This article was written by Leslie Riopel and posted on positivepsychology.com. You can read the full article by clicking here.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy or DBT is an evidence-based therapy that is effective in treating a wide range of disorders.

DBT is a recognized form of therapy that is accepted by the American Psychological Association (APA) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

In this article, we explain what DBT is and take a look at the research behind it.

What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy is based on the assumption that the problems exhibited by clients are caused by a deficit of skills.

DBT can be used as a treatment for many different things:

  • Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder
  • Individuals with Eating Disorders
  • PTSD
  • Individuals with Substance-Abuse Disorders
  • Those at High-Risk of Suicide
  • For Adolescents
  • Treating Bipolar Disorder
  • ADHD
  • College Students with Emotional Dysregulation

According to John Grohol, Psy.D., DBT is a specific type of cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy that was originally developed to help better treat borderline personality disorder. (Grohol, 2018)

Since it’s conception, it has been used for many other types of mental health issues.

DBT is a type of psychotherapy or talk therapy that uses a cognitive-behavioral approach, which emphasizes the psychosocial aspects of treatment.