Using dialectical behaviour therapy to treat clients with left temporal lobe epilepsy

The purpose of this project is to address the gap that exists in the literature in regards to providing counselling to clients with left temporal lobe epilepsy (LTLE). In many ways, the psychological symptoms of LTLE and those of borderline personality disorder are similar. Both client populations can have difficulty regulating emotions and with maintaining healthy relationships. Both populations have high rates of suicidal ideation and depression. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) was developed to treat clients with borderline personality disorder. Due to the similarities between many of the symptoms of borderline personality disorder and those of LTLE, counsellors should be successful when teaching the skills of DBT to LTLE clientele. This project provides a description of LTLE and of DBT, and it demonstrates how DBT can be applied to counsel clients with LTLE.