What is the goal of Emotion Regulation skills in DBT?

The goal of Emotion Regulation skills in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is to help clients identify and modify their emotional responses. This approach is founded on the understanding that individuals may struggle with intense emotions that can be overwhelming and impact their functioning and well-being. By learning Emotion Regulation skills, clients can gain insight into their emotional triggers, understand the patterns of their emotional responses, and develop strategies to manage these emotions more effectively.

This includes skills such as recognizing emotions, labeling them, and understanding their causes and effects. Additionally, clients learn how to decrease the intensity of their emotions when necessary and to enhance their capacity to experience positive emotions. The focus is not on suppressing emotions or avoiding them but rather on understanding and improving one's relationship with these emotions.

By developing these skills, clients can increase their emotional resilience and adapt more effectively in challenging situations, which enhances their overall quality of life. This understanding aligns with the DBT framework that values emotional awareness and flexibility rather than emotional suppression or unregulated expression.