The DBT Model
The treatment model views emotion dysregulation as the core of a variety of emotional, cognitive (thinking), relational, identity (self-concept), and behavioral problems.
Emotion dysregulation increases or exacerbates behavioral dysregulation (out-of-control actions, including impulsivity), cognitive dysregulation (difficulties in relationships), and self-dysregulation (problems with self-esteem, identity, negative self-views).
Consequently, many coon co-occurring problems (suicidal and non suicidal self-injury, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, post traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, aggression, problems in relationships, etc.) are similarly understood either as dysfunctional attempts to regulate emotion or as natural consequences of chronic emotion dyregulation.
The overarching goal of DBT is to help people create lives worth living by helping them learn psychological and social skills to regulate, or manage, and their emotions.
-S. Rizvi