Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) can be an effective treatment for anxiety disorders. DBT can help people manage anxiety symptoms by teaching them how to tolerate intense emotions, regulate their feelings, and improve their relationships.
How can DBT help with anxiety?
Distress tolerance
DBT teaches people how to cope with intense emotions without avoiding them or resorting to self-harm.
Mindfulness
DBT helps people focus on the present moment and observe their thoughts and feelings without judgment.
Emotion regulation
DBT helps people learn how to manage intense emotions and reduce emotional volatility.
Interpersonal effectiveness
DBT helps people improve their communication skills, assertiveness, and relationship management.
Who might benefit from DBT for anxiety?
People with severe anxiety disorders
People with social anxiety
People who have struggled with emotional and impulsive behaviors
People who have self-harm or suicidal ideation tendencies
People who have not found success with other therapies
DBT vs CBT for Anxiety
What’s unique about DBT skills compared to CBT, which DBT was in part modeled after, is the focus on change and acceptance. Like CBT, DBT skills can help better manage distressing thoughts and feelings. However, DBT skills emphasize accepting and validating those thoughts and feelings. DBT skills also prioritize emotional regulation, which can be especially helpful when dealing with high acuity anxiety levels.
There is also evidence that many DBT skills—mindfulness practice, distress tolerance, and emotional regulation—are helpful for anxiety among young people and the larger population. Additionally, because the development and fine-tuning of social skills aren’t always present in standard CBT protocols for generalized anxiety disorder, the DBT skill interpersonal effectiveness may be particularly beneficial for relationship challenges caused or exacerbated by the condition.
DBT is a modular therapeutic approach that can be combined with other modalities or exercises.
