Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) is a therapy designed to help people change patterns of behaviour that are not helpful. This approach works towards helping people increase their emotional and cognitive regulation by learning about the triggers that lead to reactive states and helping to assess which coping skills to apply in the sequence of events, thoughts, feelings, and behaviours to help avoid undesired reactions. DBT assumes that people are doing the best they can but are either lacking the skills or influenced by positive or negative reinforcement that interfere with their ability to function appropriately.
DBT is a modified form of cognitive-behavioural therapy. DBT combines standard cognitive-behavioural techniques for emotion regulation and reality-testing with concepts of distress tolerance, acceptance, and mindful awareness largely derived from Buddhist meditative practice.
DBT aims to mediate between the rational and emotional mind to achieve the truth which is the wise mind.
