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To Integrate or Not to Integrate Dialectical Behaviour Therapy with Other Therapy Approaches?

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Abstract

With mounting evidence for its efficacy in the treatment of borderline personality disorder and related problems and increasing dissemination nationally and internationally, front line clinicians in practice settings are increasingly aware of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Indeed, it is likely that this treatment is reaching individuals who practice from a variety of theoretical frameworks, such as psychodynamic, humanistic, cognitive, or some combination thereof. Therefore, this paper considers the ways in which DBT is an integrative approach, as well as the issues that may arise in the integration of DBT with other theoretical frameworks or with practices spawned by these alternative frameworks. We recommend that therapists practicing DBT adhere to the behavioral and dialectical theoretical foundations of the approach, in order to provide therapy that is effective, coherent, and consistent.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada

    Alexander L. Chapman, Brianna J. Turner & Katherine L. Dixon-Gordon

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  1. Alexander L. Chapman
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  2. Brianna J. Turner
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  3. Katherine L. Dixon-Gordon
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Correspondence to Alexander L. Chapman.

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Chapman, A.L., Turner, B.J. & Dixon-Gordon, K.L. To Integrate or Not to Integrate Dialectical Behaviour Therapy with Other Therapy Approaches?. Clin Soc Work J 39, 170–179 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-010-0283-4

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