Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT)
A skills-based therapy that teaches emotion regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness. Developed for intense, hard-to-manage emotions.
Category: Therapy and treatment
What is dialectical behaviour therapy?
DBT was developed for people whose emotions escalate fast and settle slowly. It balances two goals at once: accepting yourself as you are and changing behaviour that harms you.
Key things to know
It teaches four skill sets: mindfulness, distress tolerance (surviving crises without making them worse), emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
- Built for emotions that escalate fast and settle slowly.
- Four skill sets: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness.
- It balances acceptance of who you are with change of what harms you.
- Strong evidence for self-harm and borderline personality disorder.
- Skills are also taught standalone, outside full DBT programs.
What helps
DBT has strong evidence for borderline personality disorder, self-harm, and chronic emotional dysregulation. Full DBT includes individual therapy and skills group; skills are also taught standalone.
How SelfMind can help
SelfMind is an AI companion for everyday mental health support: a private place to talk through what you are feeling, in Hindi, English or Hinglish, at any hour. It is not therapy and not a crisis service; it works alongside professional care, never in place of it. You can try it free, no account needed.
Related terms
This entry is educational information, not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a treatment plan. For assessment and treatment, consult a qualified mental health professional. If you are in crisis, see our crisis resources. In India, Tele-MANAS is free at 14416, 24x7.