What does DBT teach?
The actual skills taught in DBT groups are ancient and familiar. For example, mindfulness skills, which are versions of Eastern spiritual training, include observing, describing, participating in the here and now, taking a non-judgmental stance, focusing on one thing in the moment, and being effective. Clients learn the differences between three primary states of mind: “emotion mind,” the “hot” state when emotions are in control; “reasonable mind,” the cool, logical part of the mind that plans things; and “wise mind,” which integrates the emotional and intellectual states and goes beyond them to include intuitive knowing. Ever validating, Dr. Linehan emphasizes that everybody has wise mindit is that part of each person that can experience truth and know something in a centered way. Mindfulness skills, which form the core of DBT, are taught for two sessions at the beginning of each of the three skills modules (interpersonal effectiveness skills, emotion regulation skills, and distress t
