Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is an approach designed to instill the ability to live in the present and enjoy the current moment of an individual’s life. Dialectical behavior therapy for mental health and addiction treatment can help identify a peaceful middle ground to live in rather than the high highs or low lows many are used to. Look to NorthStar Clinical Services if you are considering DBT. Call 888.373.8052 today to learn how we provide guidance to our clients so they can achieve the lives they deserve.

Who Can DBT Help?

DBT was pioneered in the 1980s by Dr. Marsha Linehan and was originally used to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD). Today, dialectical behavior is used to treat other mental health issues because DBT skills can help improve and regulate emotions, allowing for more tolerance of distress and negative emotions. This method of treatment can help clients be mindful and present in the moment, improve communication, and develop the ability to interact with others.

Dialectical behavior therapy has proven effective in assisting a variety of patients manage symptoms stemming from a number of issues, including:

• Depression
• Bipolar disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Eating disorders
• Bulimia
• Substance use disorders

A hallmark of these conditions is “all-or-nothing thinking,” which traps an individual into thinking in the extremes. For example, a person with substance use disorder may think that another drink wouldn’t hurt; they’re already intoxicated. Or, they may think that since they’re sad, they don’t deserve help, and they may as well have some drinks as punishment—a sign they’ve “accepted their fate.” DBT helps clients realize that there is a lot of space between these opposite thought patterns, and it’s often this space that holds the potential for progress.

What Does Dialectical Behavior Therapy Look Like?

With proven benefits to mental health, dialectical behavior therapy will typically involve a mix of therapies and life skill-building sessions. Guests will experience one-on-one therapy with a trained therapist who will work diligently to ensure all of their needs are met. Additionally, clients can expect to engage in life skill building in a group therapy environment designed to promote collaborative learning and helpful sharing among others walking a similar path toward recovery.

Being in group therapy with others can help your mental health by keeping you motivated, holding you accountable, and helping you learn how to utilize the skill you learn as you move forward in your daily life. Additionally, dialectical behavior therapy can help to clear the obstacles you may encounter both in treatment and outside of the therapy sessions.

Four Stages of Dialectical Behavior Therapy

DBT promotes life skills in four areas, which are:

• Mindfulness – Mindfulness is a state of active, open attention to being and living in the present. In becoming mindful, clients learn to observe their own thoughts and feelings without judgment and work to be active and present in the moment.
• Distress tolerance – Instead of escaping negative emotions through harmful actions, distress tolerance in dialectical behavior therapy will help to increase your tolerance of negative thoughts and feelings.
• Emotion regulation – Understanding, accepting, and regulating your most intense emotions can promote steadiness and calm. During dialectical behavior therapy, individuals learn strategies to manage and change those emotions to live a healthier and happier life.
• Interpersonal effectiveness – Many clients in a DBT program struggle with conflict in their most important relationships. This is where interpersonal effectiveness matters most.

A dialectical behavior therapy program will help your mental health by presenting you with techniques to allow you to communicate with others in a way that maintains your self-respect while being assertive. You will likely see your most important relationships strengthened as a result.

Call NorthStar Clinical Services to Start DBT

If you or a loved one lives with addiction, DBT can help teach skills that support the lifelong recovery journey. Don’t wait to get help. Our evidence-based treatment programs provide guidance, compassion, and support to make lasting change. Call 888.373.8052 or contact NorthStar online today.