==Overview==

==Overview==

Linehan observed "burn-out" in therapists after coping with non-motivated patients who repudiated co-operation in successful treatment. Her first core insight was to recognize that the chronically suicidal patients she studied had been raised in profoundly invalidating environments and therefore required a climate of unconditional acceptance (not [[Carl Rogers]]’  humanistically "positive" version, but [[Thich Nhat Hanh]]’s metaphysically neutral one)<ref name="loving kindness" group="note"/> in which to develop a successful therapeutic alliance. Her second insight involved the need for a commensurate commitment from patients, who needed to be willing to accept their dire level of emotional dysfunction.

Linehan observed "burn-out" in therapists after coping with non-motivated patients who repudiated co-operation in successful treatment. Her first core insight was to recognize that the chronically suicidal patients she studied had been raised in profoundly invalidating environments and therefore required a climate of unconditional acceptance (not [[Carl Rogers]]’  humanistically "positive" version, but Thich Nhat Hanh’s metaphysically neutral one)<ref name="loving kindness" group="note"/> in which to develop a successful therapeutic alliance. Her second insight involved the need for a commensurate commitment from patients, who needed to be willing to accept their dire level of emotional dysfunction.

DBT strives to have the patient view the therapist as an ally rather than an adversary, in the treatment of psychological issues.  Accordingly, in DBT the therapist aims to accept and validate the client’s feelings at any given time while nonetheless informing the client that some feelings and behaviors are maladaptive, and showing them better alternatives.<ref name=nutshell/>

DBT strives to have the patient view the therapist as an ally rather than an adversary, in the treatment of psychological issues.  Accordingly, in DBT the therapist aims to accept and validate the client’s feelings at any given time while nonetheless informing the client that some feelings and behaviors are maladaptive, and showing them better alternatives.<ref name=nutshell/>

Linehan and others combined a commitment to the core conditions of ''acceptance'' and ''change'' through the [[Dialectic#Hegelian dialectic|Hegelian]] principle of [[dialectic]]al progress (in which thesis + antithesis → synthesis) and assembled an array of skills for emotional self-regulation drawn from Western psychological traditions (e.g., [[cognitive behavioral therapy]] and an interpersonal variant, “[[assertiveness]] training”) and Eastern meditative traditions (e.g., [[Mindfulness (Buddhism)|Buddhist mindfulness meditation]]). Arguably her most significant contribution was to alter the adversarial nature of the therapist/client relationship in favour of an alliance based on [[intersubjective]] [[tough love]].

Linehan and others combined a commitment to the core conditions of ''acceptance'' and ''change'' through the [[Dialectic#Hegelian dialectic|Hegelian]] principle of [[dialectic]]al progress (in which thesis + antithesis → synthesis) and assembled an array of skills for emotional self-regulation drawn from Western psychological traditions (e.g., [[cognitive behavioral therapy]] and an interpersonal variant, “[[assertiveness]] training”) and Eastern meditative traditions (e.g., [[Mindfulness (Buddhism)|Buddhist mindfulness meditation]]). Arguably her most significant contribution was to alter the adversarial nature of the therapist/client relationship in favour of an alliance based on intersubjective [[tough love]].

All DBT can be said to involve two components:

All DBT can be said to involve two components:

[[Mindfulness]] is one of the core concepts behind all elements of DBT. Mindfulness is the capacity to pay attention, non-judgmentally, to the present moment. Mindfulness is all about living in the moment, experiencing one's emotions and senses fully, yet with perspective. It is considered a foundation for the other skills taught in DBT, because it helps individuals accept and tolerate the powerful emotions they may feel when challenging their habits or exposing themselves to upsetting situations. The concept of mindfulness and the meditative exercises used to teach it are derived from traditional [[Buddhist]] practice, though the version taught in DBT does not involve any religious or [[Metaphysics|metaphysical]] concepts.

[[Mindfulness]] is one of the core concepts behind all elements of DBT. Mindfulness is the capacity to pay attention, non-judgmentally, to the present moment. Mindfulness is all about living in the moment, experiencing one's emotions and senses fully, yet with perspective. It is considered a foundation for the other skills taught in DBT, because it helps individuals accept and tolerate the powerful emotions they may feel when challenging their habits or exposing themselves to upsetting situations. The concept of mindfulness and the meditative exercises used to teach it are derived from traditional [[Buddhist]] practice, though the version taught in DBT does not involve any religious or [[Metaphysics|metaphysical]] concepts.