Dialectical Behavior Therapy

This chapter provides an overview of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), an evidence-based outpatient treatment developed for suicidal women with borderline personality disorder (BPD), and since adapted for other settings and populations. The chapter introduces the biosocial theory of the etiology of BPD and how DBT addresses each aspect of the disorder. It further describes the theoretical foundations of DBT in behaviorism, Zen and dialectics. The reader learns about DBT structures of treatment and what client behaviors are targeted in each stage of treatment. Finally, the chapter uses a clinical case example to illustrate how a therapist would get started with a new client using DBT. (C) 2008 by The Haworth Press. All rights reserved.