The term “dialectical” means the use of acting through opposing forces. The primary dialectic within DBT is between the seemingly opposite strategies of acceptance and change. DBT is a cognitive behavioral treatment developed by Marsha Linehan, Ph.D., that emphasizes individual psychotherapy and group skills training to help people learn and use new skills and strategies to develop their life. Skills include mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.

What Are The Components of DBT?

1 – Enhance Capabilities with Skills Training

DBT skills training focuses on enhancing clients’ capabilities by teaching them behavioral skills. Skills training is frequently taught in a class where the group leaders teach the skills and assign homework. The four modules in skills training are:

• Mindfulness: being fully aware and present in the one moment
• Distress Tolerance: tolerating pain in difficult situations 
• Interpersonal Effectiveness: how to be assertive while maintaining self-respect
• Emotion Regulation: changing emotions

2 – Enhance Motivation with Individual Therapy
DBT individual therapy is focused on trying to encourage client motivation in order to help clients apply skills in their lives.

3 – Structure the Environment with Case Management
Case management strategies help the client manage his or her own life, such as their physical and social environments. The therapist applies the same dialectical, validation, and problem-solving strategies in order to teach the client to be his or her own case manager. This lets the therapist consult with the patient about what to do, and the therapist will only intervene on the client’s behalf when absolutely necessary.

How Can It Help With ADHD?

DBT was used to treat other mental conditions before it was adapted to treat adult ADHD. Some clinical trials have found DBT to be effective in reducing self-injurious behavior and in reducing anger and improving social adjustment.

The Takeaway

DBT appears very promising but it is important to note that it is a fairly recent creation dating back to only just 2016. There is a lot more research that needs to be conducted on its efficacy, but right now it is demonstrating some good signs that it is successful in helping treat emotional problems as well as ADHD.