The Benefits of DBT & Group Therapy

The popularity of Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, has been steadily increasing in the past couple of years.

DBT, once applied in a limited number of situations, has been found to be effective for the adult struggling to maintain relationships, for the teen who cannot express their emotions in a healthy way, or for anyone who has difficulty managing stressful situations.

Let’s look at how DBT works, how it relates to group therapy, and if it might be helpful for you.

DBT is an evidenced-based model that was developed by researcher Marsha Linehan in the 1970s. Her theory was founded on the integration of opposites, a term known as a dialectical.

Dr. Linehan used this idea to create a framework of techniques and tools to help individuals accept and come to terms with the reality of their life and equip them to create change wherever possible and necessary.

DBT is composed of four unique modules: mindfulness, emotional regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance.

Therapists help clients learn to manage their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and relationships by understanding their past experiences and motivations, learning new methods of communicating, and finding coping strategies that help rather than hurt.

While DBT can be engaged in both individual and group formats, it is most frequently seen in a group setting.

Group therapy might conjure up scenes from television or a book where the atmosphere is tense and participants work against each other rather than together. However, these dramatized examples could not be farther from the truth.

Group therapy often consists of a meeting of 6-10 people dealing with similar pain points in their life. In most cases, the leading therapist has checked in with each client before the start of therapy to ensure a group setting will be helpful to them.

Depending on what type of group it is, the therapist may teach about a topic and then help the group practice or bring up recurring themes for the group to continue to process as their personal experiences relate each week.

While everyone has a unique and special story, there is so much power in having someone say “me too,” or “I know that feeling.”

Group therapy can help you feel understood, validated, and not alone as you go through challenging circumstances. Group members can help each other by providing suggestions for new strategies, encouragement when things feel tricky, and comfort when things do not turn out the way we expected.

Connect with a therapist at Simplify today to see how doing therapy in a community can help you!