A dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) program is a type of psychotherapy treatment. It differs from other remedies as it uses a cognitive-behavioral approach. Its main goal is to teach you how to live in the moment.

Through dialectical behavior therapy, you can learn how to cope with stress in a healthy way, regulate your emotions effectively, and improve your relationships with others. This program helps you to deal with a sudden and intense rush of emotions. Georgia Addiction Treatment Center offers several forms of treatment and therapy to help individuals struggling with addiction—learn more by reaching out to our team at 855.952.3546 today.

How Does a Dialectical Behavior Therapy Program Work?

Dialectical behavior therapy is an evidence-based approach to psychotherapy similar to cognitive-behavioral therapy. When you go through our dialectical behavior therapy program, you are generally exposed to three types of settings, including the group setting, individual therapy, and phone coaching:

  • Group therapy – In this type of therapy, the therapist assigns you homework and roleplays about different ways you can interact with people. The goal for this is to teach you valuable behavioral skills.
  • Individual therapy – Upon learning behavioral skills during the group setting, you will be applying them in the individual therapy session. The trained professional teaches you how to adapt these behavioral skills to personal life challenges.
    Phone coaching – When in a difficult situation, you can call your therapist in between sessions for guidance. With a dialectical behavior therapy program (DBT), your therapist is always there to assist you. One distinct advantage of DBT is that even trained professionals have a consultation team. They meet with the team to ask for aid in helping you navigate through complex issues in life.

What Are the Treatment Goals of DBT?

The DBT program recognizes your support system to be an essential part of addressing your current issues. For this reason, part of the therapy process is to get your family, friends, peers, colleagues, and others in your circle involved in your treatment. With their involvement, the goals of DBT programs include:

  • Develop new skills and strengths.
  • Increase your motivation.
  • Accept things you cannot change.
  • Adjust to facts in life that you cannot control.
  • Learn skills you can apply in the real world.

DBT therapists are there to help you develop your motivation, skills, and capacity for change. They understand your struggles and with the right approach, enable you to be ready and prepared for the world.

Core Strategies Used in DBT

Therapists in a dialectical behavior therapy program use various strategies to teach behavioral change. The core techniques they use include:

  • Mindfulness to guide you to “live in the moment.”
  • Distress tolerance to show you how to tolerate and survive when in crisis.
  • Interpersonal effectiveness to help you learn how to communicate effectively with others.
  • Emotion regulation to show you the skills to navigate and manage your powerful emotions.

These four are the key strategies used in DBT. The methods used by the therapist depend on your unique circumstances, needs, and issues, as well as capacity.

Uses of DBT

Dialectical behavior therapy program has been useful in treating all kinds of psychological issues. As it incorporates mindfulness, DBT’s ability to address a wide range of problems that include:

  • Borderline personality disorder
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Binge eating disorder
  • PTSD
  • Sexual abuse
  • Alcohol addiction
  • Substance abuse

DBT has many uses, but don’t mistake that it’s a cure-all. Treating your issues will take hard work and effort both from you and your therapist. You can take full advantage of its benefits by participating in at least a couple of hours of therapy every week.

Ideally, you should participate in more hours, depending on your psychological condition. DBT is not a magical process. You will need to invest time and energy to make the change you want to happen. But don’t worry because your therapists will be there to help every step of the way.

Reach Out to Georgia Addiction Treatment Center Today

No matter what you are currently going through, a dialectical behavior therapy program can provide help. The trick is to find the plan that works best for you and your needs. So start by consulting with professionals to see how they can help you achieve success. Contact us today at 855.952.3546 to learn more about how you can get started on the path to recovery.

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If you or someone you care about is struggling with a substance abuse problem or mental health issues, the expert medical team at the Georgia Addiction Treatment Center is here to help.