Dialectical Behavior Therapy uses a number of specialized terms and acronyms. If you are new to DBT or just starting treatment, this glossary will help you understand the language your therapist and skills group leader use. This page is designed as a quick reference you can return to anytime.
Core DBT Acronyms
DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) — A comprehensive, evidence-based treatment developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan that combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness-based approaches. It balances acceptance and change strategies to help people build a life worth living.
BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) — A mental health condition characterized by patterns of emotional instability, intense interpersonal relationships, distorted self-image, and impulsive behavior. DBT was originally developed to treat BPD but is now used for many conditions.
CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) — A widely used therapy that focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors. DBT grew out of CBT and shares many of its principles while adding acceptance-based strategies and skills training.
The Four DBT Skill Modules
Mindfulness — The practice of paying attention to the present moment without judgment. In DBT, mindfulness is considered a core skill that supports all other modules. It includes “What” skills (observe, describe, participate) and “How” skills (non-judgmentally, one-mindfully, effectively).
Distress Tolerance — Skills for surviving crisis moments without making things worse. These skills help you tolerate painful emotions and situations when you cannot immediately change them.
Emotion Regulation — Skills for understanding, managing, and changing intense emotions. This module teaches you how emotions work, how to reduce vulnerability to negative emotions, and how to increase positive emotional experiences.
Interpersonal Effectiveness — Skills for navigating relationships, asking for what you need, saying no, and maintaining self-respect. This module draws on assertiveness training and teaches specific strategies for different interpersonal goals.
Common DBT Skill Acronyms
DEAR MAN — An interpersonal effectiveness acronym for asking for something or saying no effectively. Describe the situation, Express your feelings, Assert what you want, Reinforce the other person, stay Mindful, Appear confident, Negotiate when needed.
GIVE — An interpersonal effectiveness skill for maintaining relationships. Be Gentle, act Interested, Validate the other person, use an Easy manner.
FAST — An interpersonal effectiveness skill for maintaining self-respect. Be Fair, no Apologies (when unnecessary), Stick to your values, be Truthful.
TIPP — A distress tolerance skill for quickly changing your body chemistry during a crisis. Temperature (cold water on face), Intense exercise, Paced breathing, Paired muscle relaxation.
STOP — A distress tolerance skill for pausing before reacting impulsively. Stop, Take a step back, Observe what is happening, Proceed mindfully.
ACCEPTS — A distress tolerance skill for distracting yourself during a crisis. Activities, Contributing, Comparisons, Emotions (opposite), Pushing away, Thoughts (other), Sensations.
IMPROVE — A distress tolerance skill for making a crisis moment more bearable. Imagery, Meaning, Prayer, Relaxation, One thing in the moment, Vacation (brief), Encouragement.
ABC PLEASE — An emotion regulation skill for reducing vulnerability to negative emotions. Accumulate positive experiences, Build mastery, Cope ahead of time, treat PhysicaL illness, balance Eating, avoid mood-Altering substances, balance Sleep, get Exercise.
Key DBT Terms
Radical Acceptance — Fully acknowledging reality as it is in this moment, without trying to fight it, deny it, or judge it. Radical acceptance does not mean approval — it means choosing to stop suffering over things you cannot change right now.
Wise Mind — The integration of your emotional mind and your reasonable mind. Wise mind is the place where logic and emotion overlap, allowing you to make decisions that honor both your feelings and the facts of a situation.
Diary Card — A daily tracking tool used in DBT to monitor emotions, urges, behaviors, and skill use throughout the week. Your therapist reviews it at the start of each individual session to guide the conversation.
Opposite Action — An emotion regulation skill that involves doing the opposite of what an unhelpful emotion is urging you to do. For example, if anxiety urges you to avoid a situation, opposite action would involve approaching it instead.
Chain Analysis — A structured method for understanding a problematic behavior by examining the entire sequence of events, thoughts, emotions, and actions that led to it. It helps you and your therapist identify where to intervene with skills next time.
Consultation Team — A weekly meeting of DBT therapists where they support each other in providing effective treatment. The consultation team is a required component of comprehensive DBT and exists to help therapists stay motivated, skilled, and balanced.
DBT-Linehan Board of Certification — An independent organization that certifies DBT programs and clinicians who meet the standards set by Dr. Marsha Linehan. Front Range Treatment Center is a DBT-Linehan Board Certified program.
Learn More About DBT at FRTC
If you are interested in learning more about how DBT works or whether it might be right for you or a loved one, Front Range Treatment Center is here to help. We offer comprehensive DBT for adults, teens, and children in the Denver metro area. Contact us at (720) 390-6932 to schedule a free consultation.