Teaching Mindfulness Skills in DBT
Maggie Stanton, Christine Dunkley
The Oxford Handbook of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy November 1, 2018 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198758723.013.38
Summary
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) teaches mindfulness through distinct skills, focusing on 'What Skills' like observing, describing, and participating, and 'How Skills' that emphasize non-judgmental and effective practice. The concept of 'Wise Mind' helps clients integrate logical and emotional decision-making. DBT skills are developed in group settings, reinforced in individual therapy, and applied through phone contact. The chapter includes client examples to illustrate the teaching process and address potential challenges.
Abstract
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) differs from other approaches by teaching mindfulness as a set of skills. In contrast to mindfulness-based therapies such as Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), DBT makes a distinction between observe, describe, and participate (the “What Skills”) and teaches each as a separate skill. DBT makes explicit the way in which these skills are practised, i.e. non-judgementally, one-mindfully, and effectively (the “How Skills”). In addition, the skill of “Wise Mind” teaches the client how to make decisions and choices that provide a synthesis of both logical and emotional perspectives. Mindfulness skills are acquired in skills group, strengthened in individual therapy, and generalized via phone contact. Thus, the chapter is organized around these three modes of delivering therapy. Client examples and scenarios demonstrate the process and strategies used with attention to overcoming challenges that can arise when teaching these skills.