Patrick J. Hart Psy.D.
Know Thyself: Personality Development in Seattle

What is Dialectical

Behavioral Therapy?

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy DBT:

"Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is a method of treatment that was devised by Marsha Linehan, faculty at the University of Washington in Seattle, for the treatment of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Typically clients with BPD, as defined in DSM-IV, are notoriously difficult to treat (Linehan 1993). They often do not attend regularly, frequently fail to respond to therapeutic efforts and make considerable demands on the emotional resources of the therapist (particularly when suicidal and parasuicidal behaviors are prominent). The effectiveness of DBT has been demonstrated in many controlled studies across different research groups. Because of this success and due to similar behavior patterns, DBT is now being used in many settings as a viable therapy for the treatment of bipolar disorder." (Abdullatif & Bekman)


There are Four Modules in Dialectical Behavior
Therapy Skills Training Counseling and Therapy Groups:

1. Core Mindfulness Skills: These are derived from meditation techniques to enable the client to become aware of various aspects of experience and to help develop the ability to stay in contact, psychologically, with that experience in the present moment.
2. Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills: These focus on effective ways of achieving one's objectives with other people. To ask for what one wants effectively, to say no and be taken seriously, to maintain relationships and to maintain self-esteem in interactions with other people (comparable to assertiveness training)
3. Emotion Modulation Skills: These skills are ways of coping with intense emotional experiences and their "causes." They also allow for an adaptive experience and expression of intense emotions.
   
4. Distress Tolerance Skills: These include techniques for putting up with, finding meaning for, and accepting distressing situations if the client can predict no foreseeable solution at present

Patrick J. Hart Psy.D.
Assessment for Personality Disorders and Bipolar Illness
Borderline ~ Antisocial ~ Narcissistic ~ Dependent ~ Histrionic

Dr. Hart can help you assess your personal "Stages of Change" and "Readiness for Help." Patrick will help you prepare yourself to successfully enter skills training groups for work with therapists that offer Dialectical Behavior Therapy DBT in Seattle: Call 206-547-HELP (4357) to explore your options.

Maple Leaf: Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Group

Dialectical Behavior Therapy Center of Seattle
Developed at the University of Washington by Marsha Linehan, Ph.D., DBT was originally developed to treat interpersonal chaos, intense emotional swings, impulsiveness, confusion about the self (identity), and suicidal behavior. It is based on a bio-social theory that states that problems develop from the interaction of biological factors (physiological makeup) and environmental factors (learning history), which together create difficulty managing emotions. DBT is therefore appropriate for a range of problems relating to emotion disregulation, including substance use problems, eating disordered behavior, and anger-related problems. A great deal of research has been conducted on the effectiveness of DBT and, in general, DBT appears as effective or more effective than other psychotherapies for the problems mentioned above. (2007, Stacy Shaw Welch Ph.D.)

Personality Disorders
Diagnosis and Treatment Recommendations in Seattle
Borderline Personality Disorder:
Dr. Hart: Evaluation & Recommendations in Seattle

Know Your Personality: How Do You Compare to The Average

Personality Disorders: Typology & Diagnostic Differences

Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Malignant Self Love

Narcissistic Personality: How to Recognize a Narcissist

Schiziod Personalith Disorder: Internet Mental Health

Informal Online Checklist: Personality Disorder Test

Borderline Personality Disorder Central

Avoidant Personality Disorder


To reach the ultimate goal of DBT-creating a life worth living-the therapy balances empathy and warm acceptance (validation) with an unwavering focus on changing problem behavior (problem-solving). Through this balance, DBT aims to help change the behavioral, emotional, and thinking patterns associated with problems in living, while promoting the development of and reliance on inner wisdom (wise mind).

Dialectics: Dialectical Behavior Therapy

DBT is based on the idea that opposites can coexist and be synthesized. This means weighing out various points of view in any situation and constantly working on balancing an effort to change with accepting situations as they are.

DBT Seattle: Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Behavior therapy is based on the study of how behaviors are learned. It focuses on helping people change ineffective ways of coping by learning new, skillful ways of coping. It focuses on specific goals that can realistically be attained. For the most part, it is a "doing" therapy rather than a "talking" therapy. (Stacy Shaw Welch)

Dr. Patrick J. Hart
Evaluation and Treatment
Therapy for Personality Disorders in Seattle
Referrals to Seattle Dialectical Behavior Therapy Groups