Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

If Frued is the “father of psychology” then Marsha Linehan is the “mother of psychology.” From her personal experience of being suicidal, Marsha gave birth to a profound modality rooted in a personal need to save herself. The DBT model is applying logic to the emotional experience to decrease the level of emotional intensity. When the mind is “flooded” with feelings we are unable to think or feel clearly. Since feelings create emotional reactions, we need to create coping skills to manage oneself.

By separating the emotion from the reality of a situation; you can train your brain to diminish a fearful response. When confronted with the truth of a situation rather than how we “feel” about it we develop an inner control to how we respond emotionally. The goal is to alleviate emotional suffering by training the mind to be less reactionary.

As a therapist, DBT has been proven to help persons suffering from personality disorders. Most importantly, Borderline personality disorder. Borderline PD can be the most complicated and heart-wrenching of all mental health issues. Unfortunately it is the most stigmatized and hardest to treat. It is often the result of abuse and childhood trauma. It takes energy, time and courage to confront BPD (borderline PD) and find a place of wholeness within oneself. Therapy can help one manage and gain insight.

As a therapist, DBT methods are extremely useful when providing treatment to client’s. It can help bring the reality of one’s own experiences into light.