Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
DBT is a skills-based therapy designed to help individuals regulate emotions, build healthier relationships, and manage stress, particularly effective for mood disorders and trauma.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a structured, skills-based therapy originally developed for individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD). It has since been adapted for treating a range of mental health conditions, including mood disorders, PTSD, eating disorders, and self-harm behaviours.
DBT integrates cognitive-behavioural strategies with mindfulness practices and emphasises dialectics — finding balance between acceptance and change. The therapy consists of four key modules:
Mindfulness: Building awareness of the present moment.
Emotional Regulation: Managing and understanding emotions effectively.
Distress Tolerance: Developing strategies to cope with crises.
Interpersonal Effectiveness: Improving communication and relationship skills.
DBT sessions often include individual therapy, skills training groups, and phone coaching to reinforce learned skills in real-time situations.
For LGBT clients, DBT offers valuable tools to manage the emotional and interpersonal challenges they may encounter, such as:
Coping with Minority Stress: Skills in distress tolerance and emotional regulation can mitigate the impact of societal prejudice.
Strengthening Relationships: Interpersonal effectiveness skills can improve communication in personal and professional relationships, especially when navigating coming out or advocating for one’s identity.
Building Resilience: Mindfulness practices support self-compassion and resilience against internalised stigma or shame.
DBT’s combination of acceptance and change makes it particularly effective for LGBT clients, offering a compassionate framework for navigating complex emotional experiences.