Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a therapeutic approach that includes Eastern meditation. DBT is basically an offshoot of the concept of CBT. CBT is Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Dialectical Behavior Therapy focuses on four important modules. These modules are distress tolerance, mindfulness, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is one of the most important modules, as it has to do with the other three. The ability to deal with and/or control the other three, the concept of mindfulness needs to be applied. Core mindfulness has the teachings of Eastern Philosophy and Western consideration.
Core Mindfulness
Core mindfulness is essentially the ability to be self aware, considerate to others, and being able to have impulse control. By knowing our behaviors and how we react to situations, can help us to figure out how we can better serve situations by controlling ourselves. We become more in charge of who we are and how we affect the world around us.
Distress Tolerance
Distress tolerance is what teaches someone how to be able to tolerate distress. They are able to handle stressful situations through strategies that they are taught during DBT. Once they have successfully learned how to tolerate distress, they will be able to handle situations in a more calm and rational way. They will not immediately lose their cool. They will accept the situation and be able to make a decision from that point that could help solve the problems. When people are overly emotionally immediately, they do not take the time to digest the initial issue. This could lead to the piling on of problems due to cause and effect alone.
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Interpersonal effectiveness is another module. This helps to aid with the ability to convey needs and boundaries properly. This is where we learn to stand up for ourselves, make what we want and need clear in a realistic way, and learning how to handle conflict or confrontation. This helps to make sure that they can meet their goals, while not imposing on someone else and their goals. Conflict cannot always be avoided, but working with others to meet a middle ground can be incredibly beneficial.
Emotion Regulation
Emotional regulation is the fourth module. This is where the person learns how to apply techniques to how they handle their emotions. They are able to learn how to identify emotions and reasonable reactions to them. They can apply techniques that they learn from the other modules such as distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness dependent upon what the situation is, for example.
Someone that has conquered emotional regulation and DBT in general, may have learned to take a time out and meditate or use breathing techniques to feel emotionally balanced enough to deal with the situation. Circumstances change for everyone and there will be times when we cannot handle things emotionally. By applying the strategies learned throughout the DBT process, life will become easier to deal with for those that may have chemical imbalances.
DBT will help people be more equipped to work in group oriented settings. They will be more mindful of their behavior and think before they speak and/or react.
For an updated, more in-depth look at this topic, see Mindfulness Skills in BPD Patients During DBT.