Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based psychotherapy treatment that was originally developed by Psychologist Marsha M. Linehan, in the late 1980s. It was specifically designed to treat chronically suicidal individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD). DBT is a rigidly structured therapeutic approach that is carried out in three distinct settings: weekly individual therapy sessions, weekly DBT skills training group therapy sessions, and as-needed phone coaching. It combines techniques from western cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psycho-educational modules, and eastern mindfulness-based practices to foster the systematic learning of new emotional coping skills. DBT remains the gold-standard form of treatment for individuals with BPD and according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), has since been recognized as an effective method of treatment for a wide range of other mental health disorders.
The 3 States of Mind
An individual’s mindset is closely connected to one’s self-concept and one’s perception of life experiences. As a result, state of mind largely influences the way an individual feels, acts, and reacts to any given situation. A central concept of DBT involves understanding three mind states:
- The emotion mind is ruled by emotions; it is often impulsive and acted upon due to intense feelings and a sense of urgency. The emotion mind does not consider logic or reason. Examples of emotion mind:
- Crimes of passion (e.g., murdering a loved one due to intense rage, anger, or hurt).
- A parent running into a burning building to save a child without thinking about the danger to themselves or the added burden placed on the first responders to locate and save another person.
- Going on a shopping spree without being able to afford the purchases.
- The reasonable mind is explained as our “traditional thinking state of mind…it’s our practical and pragmatic, logical and rational, task-and rule-oriented way of thinking grounded in facts and reason.” The reasonable mind does not consider emotion. There are certain times when operating from a reasonable mind may be advantageous (e.g., baking a recipe from scratch, assembling furniture, making a budget, etc.).
- The wise mind lies between the emotion mind and the reasonable mind; it is the synthesis of considering both emotions and rationality. To harness the wise mind, it is imperative to understand the intricacies of both the emotion mind and the reasonable mind, how they interrelate, and to find balance between the two states.
Treatment In Calabasas
Calabasas is a city in California. It is a well-known suburb of Los Angeles, located west of the San Fernando Valley and north of the Santa Monica Mountains. Over the past decade, the city of Calabasas has grown in its reputation for luxury as well as for privacy which makes it a hidden gem for residential living for society’s elite, and one of the most desirable destinations in Los Angeles County. It is also home to a plethora of highly qualified mental health clinicians providing an array of therapeutic services and treatment options.
The information above is provided for the use of informational purposes only. The above content is not to be substituted for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, as in no way is it intended as an attempt to practice medicine, give specific medical advice, including, without limitation, advice concerning the topic of mental health. As such, please do not use any material provided above to disregard professional advice or delay seeking treatment.
