New DBT Therapy

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Dialectal Behavior Therapy (DBT) was created to treat Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) in the 1990’s. Before that, BPD was often considered untreatable and professionals wouldn’t work with clients who had the diagnosis. Rather than typical therapy, DBT focuses on teaching skills in a class-like setting and following a strict protocol for analyzing behavior. It can be a life changer when done well - or a disaster when done wrong. I have just started with a great therapist who actually trains other professionals how to do DBT. She is supposed to be getting me into the group where she works, which is known to be quite good. I hope this will be better than my last experience. The last group I was in was run by the county mental health agency. Although it was presented as a normal DBT group, it actually involved people talking about their problems with drugs and alcohol and their latest hospital stays. The leader would then read over a handout for ten minutes and tell us to practice what we read that week. It was a support group more than a DBT group and I learned nothing. Hoping this next experience is a good one!