DBT Used by Psychologists to Teach Coping Skills for OCD and Bipolar Disorder

Dialectic behavioral therapy (DBT) is used to treat those who suffer from illnesses such as borderline personality disorder (BPD), bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), suicidal tendencies, and substance abuse. Psychologists are learning to help treat some of these more difficult mental illnesses, as affected individuals are learning that they can be helped and are seeking treatment in increasing numbers.

Suicidal tendencies, substance abuse, depression and anxiety attacks are common issues among those with BPD, bipolar disorder, PTSD or OCD. One problem these individuals seem to have in common is a lack of appropriate coping mechanisms to allow them to deal with the daily stresses of everyday life. This unique challenge for all these individuals often also prevents them from responding to more traditional methods of psychological counseling, or cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). Modifications have been incorporated into DBT that have proven to be much more effective with these patients, teaching them coping skills for specific problems.

Marsha Linehan, Ph.D., first developed dialectic behavioral therapy after noticing the low success rate of CBT with adult women suffering from BPD. Her research showed that clients were frequently withdrawing from treatment or becoming angry and unengaged. She also found that professionals typically backed off when pushing for a change in behavior if patients became upset or emotionally withdrawn. Meanwhile, patients would reward counselors with warmth or engagement if they were allowed to switch the topic to something they wanted to discuss.

In order to address this failure to promote change, acceptance strategies were added so clients could feel more understood by their therapists. Rather than pushing a patient to change all their behaviors, making them feel invalidated, some behaviors were praised as very appropriate, allowing the individual to understand that not every action or reaction was inappropriate. They were also helped to understand that the current behavior was normal for their mental health problem, but was also treatable with cooperation between therapist and patient.

This not only prevents people from feeling alienated by their therapist and wanting to quit treatment, but it also dramatically improves their relationship. It helps clients discover they have sound judgment and prepares them to learn how and when to trust themselves. But DBT is focused on having patients make decisions that will lead to change, rather than simply driving home the need for change.

In order to weave in acceptance with change, Linehan also incorporated a third set of strategies called dialectics. In DBT, therapists and clients attempt to balance change with acceptance, two forces that might initially seem to compete with one another. But by maintaining and blending them, both parties avoid becoming trapped inside rigid thoughts and behaviors.

Three components of DBT teach invaluable coping skills for individuals with OCD and bipolar disorder: individual therapy, skills groups and phone coaching. During individual therapy, patients receive an hour-long weekly session with the psychologist. They also attend a two-hour weekly skills group to learn the four primary skill sets: mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation and distress tolerance. And with DBT, the therapist retains a vital presence, as opposed to other treatments. When in situations where they might potentially harm themselves, patients are instructed to call their individual therapists for skills coaching. The therapist then reinforces alternatives to self-harm or suicidal behaviors.

It is not uncommon for DBT to be used in conjunction with medication. This is especially true for people with bipolar disorder, who may rely on such medications to treat severe depression, and to help prevent the extremes in mood swings.

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<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC '-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN' 'http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd'><html><head><title>Articles Back Link | DBT Used by Psychologists to Teach Coping Skills for OCD and Bipolar Disorder</title></head><body><h3>DBT Used by Psychologists to Teach Coping Skills for OCD and Bipolar Disorder</h3><br><br> By: Stephen Daniels<br><br><p><p>Dialectic behavioral therapy (DBT) is used to treat those who suffer from illnesses such as borderline personality disorder (BPD), bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), suicidal tendencies, and substance abuse. Psychologists are learning to help treat some of these more difficult mental illnesses, as affected individuals are learning that they can be helped and are seeking treatment in increasing numbers.</P><p>Suicidal tendencies, substance abuse, depression and anxiety attacks are common issues among those with BPD, bipolar disorder, PTSD or OCD. One problem these individuals seem to have in common is a lack of appropriate coping mechanisms to allow them to deal with the daily stresses of everyday life. This unique challenge for all these individuals often also prevents them from responding to more traditional methods of psychological counseling, or cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). Modifications have been incorporated into DBT that have proven to be much more effective with these patients, teaching them coping skills for specific problems.</P><p>Marsha Linehan, Ph.D., first developed dialectic behavioral therapy after noticing the low success rate of CBT with adult women suffering from BPD. Her research showed that clients were frequently withdrawing from treatment or becoming angry and unengaged. She also found that professionals typically backed off when pushing for a change in behavior if patients became upset or emotionally withdrawn. Meanwhile, patients would reward counselors with warmth or engagement if they were allowed to switch the topic to something they wanted to discuss.</P><p>In order to address this failure to promote change, acceptance strategies were added so clients could feel more understood by their therapists. Rather than pushing a patient to change all their behaviors, making them feel invalidated, some behaviors were praised as very appropriate, allowing the individual to understand that not every action or reaction was inappropriate. They were also helped to understand that the current behavior was normal for their mental health problem, but was also treatable with cooperation between therapist and patient.</P><p>This not only prevents people from feeling alienated by their therapist and wanting to quit treatment, but it also dramatically improves their relationship. It helps clients discover they have sound judgment and prepares them to learn how and when to trust themselves. But DBT is focused on having patients make decisions that will lead to change, rather than simply driving home the need for change.</P><p>In order to weave in acceptance with change, Linehan also incorporated a third set of strategies called dialectics. In DBT, therapists and clients attempt to balance change with acceptance, two forces that might initially seem to compete with one another. But by maintaining and blending them, both parties avoid becoming trapped inside rigid thoughts and behaviors.</P><p>Three components of DBT teach invaluable coping skills for individuals with OCD and bipolar disorder: individual therapy, skills groups and phone coaching. During individual therapy, patients receive an hour-long weekly session with the psychologist. They also attend a two-hour weekly skills group to learn the four primary skill sets: mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation and distress tolerance. And with DBT, the therapist retains a vital presence, as opposed to other treatments. When in situations where they might potentially harm themselves, patients are instructed to call their individual therapists for skills coaching. The therapist then reinforces alternatives to self-harm or suicidal behaviors.</P><p>It is not uncommon for DBT to be used in conjunction with medication. This is especially true for people with bipolar disorder, who may rely on such medications to treat severe depression, and to help prevent the extremes in mood swings.<br></P></p> <br><br> <b>Author Resource:-></b>  <br><br><b>Article From</b> <a href='http://www.articlesbacklink.com/'>Articles Back Link</a><br></body></html>