DBT
Designed for emotional intensity patterns like those in borderline personality disorder, this therapy teaches distress tolerance and emotion regulation. It helps patients distinguish needs from fears to manage crises effectively.
This therapeutic approach was designed specifically to address the emotional intensity characteristic of borderline personality disorder. It teaches patients distress tolerance and emotion regulation skills to help the nervous system manage crises effectively. By focusing on these core competencies, it enables individuals to distinguish their needs from their fears and avoid maladaptive behaviors.
What this means in real life
A person who struggles with intense anger and self-harm learns DBT skills like naming their emotions without judgment, pausing before reacting, and using grounding techniques when overwhelmed—gradually gaining control over impulsive responses.
What it isn’t
It is not simply 'positive thinking' or talk therapy alone. DBT is a comprehensive, structured program with specific modules (mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness) and typically requires months of commitment, not just weekly counseling.
Commonly misused online
Social media often reduces DBT to 'just mindfulness' or frames it as a quick fix for anxiety, when it is actually an intensive, multi-component treatment requiring sustained practice and professional guidance.
Based on 2 reference sources, including NIH material. Last verified July 11, 2026.