DBT is an evidence-based framework created by Dr. Marsha Linehan consisting of four core skill sets: Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness.

At its foundation, DBT is built on holding two seemingly opposing truths at the same time—a dialectic.

• Mental Toughness vs. Emotional Processing
  “I can be resilient and execute under pressure, AND I am allowed to feel overwhelmed, sad, or frustrated when things go wrong.”

• Being a Team Player vs. Personal Autonomy
  “I can be a dedicated, selfless teammate or leader, AND I must honor my own personal boundaries and mental health needs.”

Understanding dialectics is essential for those who often get stuck in a fixed or rigid mindset (“go big or go home,” “no pain no gain,” or “there’s no crying in baseball”). Embracing dialectics breaks you out of all or nothing thinking, replacing a fixed mindset with a flexible, adaptive and growth mindset.