Online Dialectical Behavioural Therapy: Is it Right for Me?
What is DBT?
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy is a type of psychotherapy that was originally developed to treat people diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. It has since been used to treat a variety of mental health issues, such as depression, PTSD, and substance abuse. DBT focuses on helping people regulate their emotions, tolerate distress, and develop healthy coping strategies. It is based on the concept of a dialectic; which is the idea that truth can be found through a synthesis of opposing views. In DBT, therapists help clients to identify and resolve conflicts between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
DBT involves individual counselling, a group setting to learn coping strategies, as well as phone-based coaching to assist individuals in applying those techniques when feeling highly distressed. DBT is recognised as the gold-standard treatment for BPD.
What Can DBT Help Me With?
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) was originally developed to help those who experience Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). However, it is not mandatory to have this diagnosis to benefit from DBT. People diagnosed with BPD typically have difficulties with:
Experiencing their emotions safely
A stable sense of selfhood
Chronic feelings of emptiness
Harmful behaviours towards themselves
Rapid shifts in emotions
a variety of other symptoms (for more see).
DBT concentrates on helping people to learn and apply techniques for emotional regulation and improving their lives. If you experience overwhelming emotions, unstable relationships, or generally want to learn more about yourself to learn more effective coping mechanisms and cultivate self-appreciation, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy can help you.
Research conducted on DBT's effectiveness has concluded that it is an effective treatment for:
BPD / EUPD
Depression
Anxiety
Eating Disorders
PTSD
How Would I Do DBT Online?
The fundamentals of Dialectical Behavior Therapy remain the same regardless of whether the sessions are online or in-person. This approach usually involves weekly individual therapy and a group where the skills of DBT are taught and practiced. With DBT online, this all takes place using a video call platform, whether it be Zoom, Teams, etc. Most therapists will ask you to always have your camera on, to facilitate non-verbal communication.
Both online and in-person DBT involve looking back at your emotions, urges and skills from the previous week. A tracking tool, known as a Diary Card, is used to track this information. With in person DBT, you would bring your diary card to therapy. Online, you can share it either through video (shared screen) or via email.
You can meet with your therapist from wherever is most convenient for you, as long as you have:
a space where you can talk freely and confidentially.
a stable internet connection.
What Would DBT Teach Me?
Skills! Many practical skills!
Skills training is a core component of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and is usually conducted in a group setting with a mental health practitioner introducing new techniques each week. Those same skills are then used by the individuals in the group for their everyday life activities, with homework given for practice.
In online DBT therapy, the skills that are taught are:
Mindfulness : DBT encompasses a set of techniques for mindfulness, which involves being aware and attentive to one's current experience without judgment. This module of DBT focuses on teaching how to apply mindfulness in everyday life.
Distress Tolerance : These skills provide individuals with methods to cope with intense negative emotions without making the situation worse. For example, people can be taught to self-soothe or distract themselves rather than engage in unsafe behaviours like fighting or self-harm.
Interpersonal Effectiveness : Another set of skills in DBT focuses on being effective in interactions with others. During this module, participants learn how to communicate assertively, build meaningful relationships, and establish healthy boundaries.
Emotional Regulation : The emotional regulation module focuses on helping individuals develop strategies to manage their emotions more effectively and reduce impulsive responses. This includes taking care of physical wellbeing, cultivating positive emotions, and preparing oneself for difficult situations.
Is Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Online Actually Effective?
Initial research on online DBT appears to be promising, aligning with the greater body of evidence that supports the efficacy of online therapy. However, slight modifications were needed to ensure the approach was suitable for telehealth, such as adapting homework submission methods. While further research is necessary due to the novelty of administering DBT through the internet, both individual therapy and skills group components can be conducted on a digital platform, such as Zoom.
As with any therapy, the participant's willingness to engage and remain open-minded is crucial to its effectiveness. DBT can be particularly effective if one is willing to apply the learned skills in their environment.
What Are the Drawbacks of DBT Online?
While the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a rapid increase in telehealth service providers, potential challenges with online DBT therapy have been identified, including technical difficulties, poor internet connectivity, and limited access to equipment. Another concern is the safety of patients, especially regarding self-injurious behaviours and suicidal ideation. Hence, safety planning is essential to ensure all parties can manage unsafe urges.
In some cases, an in-person setting may be more appropriate. Confidentiality is also critical, and members must ensure they are alone in a private room during online therapy sessions.
LAstly…
In conclusion, dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) has proven to be an effective treatment for a wide range of mental health issues. By combining various therapeutic techniques, DBT helps individuals to develop new skills, regulate their emotions, and improve their quality of life. Online DBT sessions have made this therapy more accessible and convenient for people who are unable to attend in-person sessions.
At Step Into Yourself, we offer online DBT services that are tailored to meet your unique needs. We invite you to take the first step towards a better life by booking a free consultation with us today.
Let us help you step into yourself and find the path to a happier, healthier you.
At Step Into Yourself, our mission is to empower individuals to navigate the challenges of life with confidence and authenticity. We strive to provide accessible and effective dialectical behavioural therapy online, in a safe and supportive environment. Our goal is to help people develop a deeper understanding of themselves, learn new skills, and cultivate a sense of self-appreciation.
The information above is provided for the use of informational purposes only. The above content is not to be substituted for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, as in no way is it intended as an attempt to practice medicine, give specific medical advice, including, without limitation, advice concerning the topic of mental health. As such, please do not use any material provided above to disregard professional advice or delay seeking treatment.
References
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Lynch, T. R. (2018). Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Theory and Practice for Treating Disorders of Overcontrol. Reno, Nevada: Context Press, an imprint of New Harbinger Publications.
Ahovan, M., Balali, S., Shargh, N. A., & Doostian, Y. (2016). Efficacy of dialectical behavior therapy on clinical signs and emotion regulation in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 7(4), 412-412. Doi: 10.36941/mjss https://www.mcser.org/journal/index.php/mjss/article/view/9336
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Ritschel, L. A., Lim, N. E., & Stewart, L. M. (2015). Transdiagnostic applications of DBT for adolescents and adults. American journal of psychotherapy, 69(2), 111-128. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.2015.69.2.111
Goldstein, T. R., Axelson, D. A., Birmaher, B., & Brent, D. A. (2007). Dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents with bipolar disorder: a 1-year open trial. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry,46(7), 820-830. https://doi.org/10.1097/chi.0b013e31805c1613
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