DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy)

DBT (dialectical behaviour therapy) is a talking therapy, related to CBT, that teaches skills to cope with very intense emotions. It often combines one-to-one sessions with skills training in mindfulness, coping with distress, managing emotions and relationships. It was first developed for people with borderline personality disorder. The therapist accepts that your ways of coping made sense, while helping you learn new ones. UK guidance suggests specialist DBT for women with borderline personality disorder who self-harm; other uses are not well studied: see “DBT: what the research says”.