Which skill is emphasized in DBT to improve emotional well-being?

Developing distress tolerance skills is a foundational component of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) aimed at improving emotional well-being. This skill focuses on enhancing an individual's ability to tolerate difficult emotions and situations without resorting to maladaptive coping mechanisms such as substance use or self-harm. By learning to manage distress effectively, individuals can maintain a sense of control over their emotional responses, reducing the intensity of negative feelings and fostering resilience.

DBT teaches various techniques within distress tolerance, including mindfulness, radical acceptance, and self-soothing. These tools empower individuals to navigate challenging situations while maintaining emotional stability, thereby promoting healthier responses to stressors.

The other options do not align with the core principles of DBT. Suppressing emotions can lead to increased distress and is counterproductive to emotional processing. Relying solely on others for emotional support may foster dependency and delay individual coping development. Avoiding conflict entirely may lead to unresolved issues and increased anxiety, as conflicts are a natural part of relationships and can be managed in healthier ways through DBT skills.