ABSTRACT
Although DBT therapists employ many traditional cognitive restructuring procedures, they do so within the context of behavioural theory and dialectical principles that provide a different range of solutions for maladaptive cognitions. Based on behavioural theory, DBT conceptualizes acts such as thinking, remembering and fantasizing as behaviours and postulates that these cognitive behaviours develop and are maintained according to the principles of learning theory. Therapists assess for cognitive processes rather than structures, such as “core beliefs” and “schemas”. They consider whether to treat each thought in terms of how much it influenced emotions, impulses and actions in that moment and how often it occurs during episodes of target behaviours. Therapists also assess and treat the antecedents and the consequences that control a specific cognitive behaviour. For example, strong emotion is as likely to cause cognitive distortions as cognitive distortions are to elicit strong emotions.
