Improving motivation and reducing dysfunctional behaviors is typically achieved through individual therapy during which the therapist has a patient fill out a self-monitoring form weekly tracking their various treatment targets. This form is then used by the therapist to prioritize session time, giving behaviors that threaten the patient's life highest priority, followed by behaviors that interfere with therapy , and behaviors that interfere with the patient's quality of life.

Methods in Dialectical Behavior Therapy to Improve Motivation and Reduce Dysfunctional Behaviors

The third function of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is to improve a patient's motivation to change and reduce behaviors that are harmful to themselves and others.

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- Enhancing capabilities
- Generalizing capabilities
- Improving motivation and reducing dysfunctional behaviors
- Enhancing and maintaining therapist capabilities and motivation
- Structuring the environment

Five Functions of Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Chapman A. L. (2006). Dialectical behavior therapy: current indications and unique elements. Psychiatry (Edgmont (Pa. : Township)), 3(9), 62–68.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Current Indications and Unique Elements

A key function of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is enhancing the life skills that many patients with disorders like borderline personality disorder (BPD) lack or need to improve. These life skills include regulating emotions (emotion regulation skills), paying attention to the experience of the present moment and regulating attention (mindfulness skills), effectively navigating interpersonal situations (interpersonal effectiveness), and tolerating distress and surviving crises without making situations worse (distress tolerance skills).

Five Functions of Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Enhancing capabilities

The second critical function of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is ensuring patients are carrying over skills learned in therapy into their everyday life. 

Five Functions of Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Generalizing capabilities

Five Functions of Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Improving motivation and reducing dysfunctional behaviors

Maintaining the motivation and skills of the therapists who treat patients with disorders like borderline personality disorder (BPD) is also an important function of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Working with multiproblematic patients can strain the coping resources, abilities, and determinations of their treatment providers, so it is important to provide support for therapists practicing DBT.

Five Functions of Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Enhancing and maintaining therapist capabilities and motivation

The last function of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is structuring the environment in a manner that strengthens effective behavior/progress and does not reinforce maladaptive or negative behavior. This usually involves structuring the therapy in a way that best promotes progress. It also involves helping patients find ways to effectively modify their own environments. This could include helping drug-using patients learn how to modify their social circles to avoid drug use.

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