Dialectical Behavior Therapy In Eating Disorders
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a cognitive-behavioral approach to treatment that has proven effective in many forms of treatment and for various mental health diagnoses. This approach incorporates four modules: Mindfulness, Emotional Regulation, Distress Tolerance, and Interpersonal Effectiveness. Together, these modules teach clients valuable skills to change unhealthy behaviors and reduce disordered responses.
By: Rachel Grossman
The goal of DBT is to transform negative thinking patterns and behaviors into positive outcomes. This is done by strengthening skillful responses to challenging situations and hard-to-handle emotions. DBT has proved to be effective in the treatment of eating disorders. Eating disorder behaviors often serve to regulate difficult situations and emotions triggered by thoughts around food, body, weight, etc. Eating disorders are associated with difficulty regulating emotions, even though clients often appear to be organized and in control in other areas of their lives. The four DBT modules aim to target the behaviors and the emotions a client is experiencing.
Goals of each DBT module:
Mindfulness
This module involves learning to observe, describe, and participate in the moment without judgment.
Emotion Regulation
Learning to manage difficult emotions as they come up. Emotion Regulation involves understanding and identifying one’s feelings to decrease emotional suffering.
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Interpersonal Effectiveness involves working on building and maintaining positive relationships.
Distress Tolerance
This module involves teaching clients how to manage stressful or distressing situations in a healthy way.
Learning these skills would be helpful for anyone, but they are especially beneficial for clients with eating disorders. DBT aims to increase happiness and improve motivation for change. These goals are critical, given the high levels of ambivalence among clients with eating disorders.
Recovery can be challenging and bring up a lot of difficult emotions. DBT focuses on targeting these emotions to help clients feel a greater sense of control. The more clients practice the skills and apply them to their lives, the easier it will be to use skills in new situations down the road.
At BALANCE eating disorder treatment center™, our compassionate, highly skilled team of clinicians is trained in diagnosing and treating the spectrum of eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, compulsive overeating, and other disordered eating behaviors and body image issues. In addition to our full-time Day Treatment Program and Weeknight Intensive Outpatient Program, we offer high-quality programming, nutrition counseling with a licensed dietitian, meal support, DBT, and various other groups and resources to help those seeking help for food concerns. We also have a ‘Mindfulness in Eating Disorder Recovery: DBT Skills 101 webinar, which can be purchased here.
Our admissions team would be happy to answer any questions you may have about our programs and services. Book a free consultation call with our admissions team below, or read more about our philosophy here.
This post was written by BALANCE Social Work Intern, Rachel Grossman (she/her).
Rachel is a graduate student at New York University pursuing her Master's degree in Social Work. She previously graduated with her Bachelor's degree in Psychology with a focus on psychopathology. Rachel previously worked conducting assessments and providing short-term counseling to children and families internationally. Rachel is passionate about supporting her clients on the journey to recovery.
References
Dimeff, L., & Linehan, M. M. (2001). Dialectical behavior therapy in a nutshell. The California Psychologist, 34, 10-13.
Linehan M.M., Chen E.Y. (2005) Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Eating Disorders. Encyclopedia of Cognitive Behavior Therapy. 168-170.