How Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Helped Selena Gomez Face Criticism and Heal? Exploring The Process

Selena Gomez has turned out to be a role model in the face of criticism. From harsh comments online to constant media attention, she has often found herself the target of trolls. However, instead of surrendering, Gomez has been expressive about her recovery process for losing weight. In her recent interview, she showed how Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) has allowed her to manage challenging emotions and put a hold on self-doubt. She termed the process as the one which enabled her to strip off layers of historical pain, confront it and eventually start healing.

What Selena Said About DBT and Healing

In the interview, Gomez admitted that criticism, especially about her body weight, had left lasting scars. She shared, “I got stung by a person saying I was fat. Why is that [emotion] coming up? And I realised, oh, that’s stemming from that one time when I was going through some medical stuff and I had gained weight…”

The 33-years-old actor explained that DBT allowed her to connect these dots, to see how current triggers linked back to older, unresolved issues. For Gomez, therapy became a way of peeling away layers and addressing the root cause instead of just reacting on the surface. She also mentioned carrying small cards with guiding questions, tools from DBT that helped her pause and respond to emotions more mindfully.

ALSO READ: After Shedding Around 60 Pounds, Lizzo Slams Weight-Loss Drug Rumours Flaunting Wellness Journey

Understanding Dialectical Behaviour Therapy

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, or DBT, is a systematic type of psychotherapy that supports individuals to deal with extreme emotions and destructive thinking patterns. Dr. Neha Anand, a counselling psychologist, explains that DBT helps people with conditions like borderline personality disorder and those facing intense emotional challenges. 

The treatment is a process that determines the origins of mental health issues and provides means to cope with them. It is also effective in anxiety, depression, trauma, as well as eating disorders.

The therapy works in four stages:

• Stage One: Focuses on addressing harmful or suicidal thoughts.
• Stage Two: Deals with emotional pain and problems that interfere with personal or professional life.
• Stage Three: Works on improving relationships and how one responds to different situations.
• Stage Four: Helps patients find solutions, let go of the past, and move forward with healthier coping skills.

Through subdividing therapy into these phases, DBT integrates acceptance and change to teach individuals to accept things as they are and learn new skills to make them better.

How DBT Helped Selena Heal

To Gomez, DBT was not only talk therapy but a lifeline. Once trolls commented on her weight, she could no longer respond immediately with shame or pain. Rather, she hesitated, thought about it and realised the source of the reaction. She followed it back to her medical challenges, such as lupus treatments that had been imposed on her body.

This process gave her perspective and control. Instead of being consumed by criticism, she learned to acknowledge her feelings and move through them. In her words, it was about “connecting the dots” and finally making peace with herself.

ALSO READ: Andy Cohen Says Micro-Dosing Weight Loss Meds Helped Him Beat Cravings and Lose Weight Safely

Conclusion

Selena Gomez’s journey highlights how therapy can create powerful change. Through DBT, she found tools to face criticism, unpack deep emotional triggers, and heal layer by layer. Her story is proof that recovery and resilience are possible when we commit to understanding ourselves with compassion and courage.