DBT Explained
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) was developed by an American Psychologist, Marsha M. Linehan to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD) but it has been successfully applied to other mental health conditions since then. It incorporates strategies from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Zen Principals, and Behavioural Sciences. The strategies are organized into four teachable skill sets:
Mindfulness Skills
Interpersonal Skills
Emotion Regulation Skills
Distress Tolerance Skills
What to Expect of DBT at SCHC
Our goal at sunshine Coast Health Center is to help our clients achieve general skills by employing two treatment modes delivered by multidisciplinary clinicians: 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 Behavioural Therapy (DBT) is offered at SCHC in two formats:
Weekly Training Workshop
Three Weekly Individual Coaching Follow-ups (to assess understanding and discuss additional questions/concerns related to each skill)
Individual treatment is facilitated through the collaboration of SCHC’s Psychiatrist, adjunct clinicians, and the client’s Primary Counsellor. The overall goal is to provide our clients with the general tools to help them identify and make changes to their current thoughts, emotions, and behaviours that may cause them distress in everyday life.