The overarching goal of DBT is to help the client create a “life worth living” rather than ending their life or bearing their unbearable existence (Linehan, 2015). Therefore, the day-to-day goal of DBT is to develop dialectical thinking and practice skills that result in emotion regulation, reduced suffering, and improved relationships (Kress et al., 2021). Linehan (2015) describes this as helping the client get out of hell. DBT helps the client to recognize how their attempts to avoid, deny, or escape strong emotions paradoxically makes those emotions more intense (Kress et al.). By helping clients accept their feelings, providing tools for emotion regulation, and decreasing emotional avoidance—through psychoeducation and exposure to upsetting situations and triggers—DBT empowers clients to increase their tolerance of distress and use coping skills such as meditation and mindfulness to regulate their emotions (Kress et al.).
I BUILT MY SITE FOR FREE USING