Glossary
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a comprehensive treatment that combines individual therapy, skills group, phone coaching, and therapist consultation, originally developed for chronic suicidality and borderline personality disorder. DBT teaches four skill modules: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
DBT was created by Dr. Marsha Linehan in the 1990s. Standard DBT lasts 6 to 12 months and requires commitment to all four modes of treatment. Adapted DBT (DBT-informed individual therapy or skills-only groups) is widely used for emotion dysregulation across many diagnoses. Multiple randomized trials show DBT reduces self-harm, hospitalization, and dropout.
Source: Linehan Institute / Behavioral Tech