DBT Assumptions
DBT assumes that:

 

  • People are doing the best they can at any given moment with the knowledge they have.
  • People want to improve their lives and be happy.
  • We may not have caused all of our problems, and we have to solve them anyway.
  • Identifying and changing the causes of behavior work better than judging and blaming.
  • People who struggle with intense emotions use self-destructive behaviors such as suicidal behaviors, self-harm, and other maladaptive coping mechanisms in an attempt to solve the problem or find short-term relief.
  • People desperately want to feel better and live a more fulfilling life.
  • Problems are often associated with intense negative emotions that are profoundly difficult to tolerate.
  • People, when given more effective ways of dealing with problems or emotions, generally are motivated to live a life worth living.
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