Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is a specialized type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Considered part of the “Third Wave” of CBT, the treatment was initially created in the early 1990s by Dr. Marsha Linehan. DBT is evidence-based, meaning that it has a large body of research behind it, showing that it has been effective in treatment. It was initially designed to treat symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD) and works by balancing principles of acceptance (e.g., of challenges, a person’s circumstances, etc.) and change (e.g., skills focused on changing how we react to emotions).