5 Reasons DBT is Great for Emotional Reactivity (Plus a practical example!)

As a trauma therapist in Oakland, CA, I integrate DBT skills in helping clients with emotional reactivity.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based treatment that has been found to be effective for individuals who have difficulty regulating their emotions. There are several reasons why DBT is effective for emotional regulation:

1. DBT focuses on both the individual and their environment: DBT addresses the ways in which an individual's emotions, thoughts, and behaviors are influenced by their environment, and how they can change their environment in order to improve their emotional regulation.
2. DBT teaches specific skills: DBT teaches specific skills such as mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness, which are all crucial for emotional regulation.
3. DBT emphasizes the acceptance of difficult emotions: DBT recognizes that it is impossible to eliminate all negative emotions and instead encourages individuals to accept and validate their emotions while also teaching skills to manage them.
4. DBT is a combination of behavioral and cognitive therapies: DBT combines cognitive-behavioral techniques, which focus on changing negative patterns of thinking, with mindfulness techniques, which focus on being present in the moment and accepting thoughts and emotions.
5. DBT is tailored to the individual's needs: DBT is tailored to the specific needs of the individual, and is flexible enough to be adapted to different populations and contexts.

All these elements make DBT a comprehensive and effective approach for emotional regulation. It helps individuals to improve their emotional regulation, and to lead a life that is more consistent with their values and goals. DBT can be used as part of treating complex trauma (or C-PTSD).

A simplified example of how one might apply their DBT skills IRL. 

Below is a hypothetical example of how one might use the DBT Skills Stop, TIPP, WiseMind, and DearMan. 

Stop stands for Stop, Take a breath, Observe, and Proceed mindfully. It's a skill that helps individuals to manage intense emotional experiences, by allowing them to take a moment to pause and gain a new perspective before reacting impulsively.  Here's a video.

TIPP stands for Temperature, Intense Exercise, Paced Breathing, and Progressive muscle relaxation. It is a skill that helps individuals to regulate their physiological state and emotional arousal in order to manage intense emotional experiences, such as anger, anxiety, or panic.
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Temperature: It's a technique to change your internal temperature, by drinking cold or hot water, or put a cold pack or a hot pack on the part of the body where you feel the sensation of the emotion.

Intense Exercise: Physical activity is a powerful way to release pent-up energy, reduce stress, and improve mood. Engaging in intense exercise can help to reduce feelings of anxiety, anger, or depression.

Paced Breathing: When you're feeling anxious, angry or stressed, your breathing can become shallow and rapid, which can make you feel more anxious. Paced breathing is a way to slow and deepen your breath, which can help to calm your body and mind.

Progressive muscle relaxation: This technique involves tensing and relaxing different muscle groups in the body, which can help to release tension and relax the body.

By using TIPP skill, individuals can learn to regulate their physiological state in order to manage intense emotions and improve their ability to cope with stress. It's a powerful tool for managing intense emotions and reducing stress.

Here's a video. 

In DBT, it is said that people have different states of mind, such as emotional mind, rational mind and wise mind.

Emotional mind is a state of mind where emotions are the main driver for the behavior and decisions.

Rational mind is where logical thinking is the main driver.

Wise mind, on the other hand, is the state where rational thinking and emotions are balanced and integrated, allowing the individual to make decisions that are grounded in both logic and emotional understanding. It's the state of mind where the person is able to make the best decisions in their life.

​Here's a video. 

The DEARMAN technique is a way for individuals to build assertiveness skills and to communicate in an effective way. It can be used in situations where one feels uncomfortable or unsupported in expressing themselves.

​Here's a video. ​

The goal of DBT is to help individuals by teaching them skills to regulate their emotions, increase nervous system regulation, improve their cognitive flexibility and increase their mindfulness. This can help them to make better decisions, solve problems more effectively, and improve their overall well-being. 

Learn more about how I specifically use DBT with my clients here. 

Looking from a trauma therapist in Oakland, CA? Learn more here.

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DBT Therapy in Oakland, CA