DBT – dialectical behavioural therapy
Colette Adrian 2012
Specifically designed for those with borderline personality disorder
• BPD is considered one of the most difficult disorders to treat
• People with this diagnosis often present with – suicide attempts, suicide threats, displays of hostility
• DBT is a form of CBT specifically for this group
Targets of skills training in DBT
• Mindfulness
• Distress tolerance
• Interpersonal effectiveness
• Emotion regulation techniques
Core skill of the therapist
• Validation validation validation• The essence of validation is communicating
that his or her private responses (emotions, thoughts, assumptions, actions) are understandable and reasonable.
• Has a number of benefits – the biggest being validation balances the therapist’s push for change
Validation strategies
• Emotional validation strategies– Opportunities for expression, naming emotions,
feelings are valid• Behavioural validation strategies– Accepting behaviour in non-judgemental manner
• Cognitive validation strategies– Finding the kernel of truth• Cheerleading strategies• You are doing your best
Levels of validation
1. Active observing- attentive, AWAKE2. Reflecting the observed – not judging merit or
encouraging “is this how it is for you right now?”3. Articulating the unobserved – perceptively
understand what is meant without the person having to explain things.
4. Validation in terms of past – describe how behaviour makes sense given that in the past….
5. Validation in terms of present – this behaviour makes sense given what’s happening right now
Level 6 of validation
• Radical acceptance – you are what you are and I can handle it, and you can handle it.– What’s done is done, and I’m still here, lets move
forward together.
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