In the media and rehabilitation literature, we often hear about “the road to recovery.” The reality of the situation, however, is that there are as many “roads to recovery” as there are people in need of help with substance abuse issues. At Promises Behavioral Health, we understand that each patient is different, and this is why we offer a wide range of therapeutic approaches to patients suffering at the hands of substance use disorders.
The foundational idea of the dialectical behavior therapy program at Promises Behavioral Health is that self-acceptance and living in the moment are not a hindrance in the quest for self-improvement. And instead, that they are the seeds from which good health, personal growth, and achievement will sprout.
To this end, our therapy programs provides a solution-oriented form of psychological counseling. A dialectical behavior therapy program focuses on empowering you to learn how to change and control your thinking patterns, emotions, and behaviors. This empowerment provides you a valuable tool during the recovery process.
What is a Dialectical Behavior Therapy Program?
Initially designed for the treatment of patients who have borderline personality disorder, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) has proven to be a powerful tool in the hands of therapists working with men and women suffering from depression, trauma and PTSD, eating disorders, and substance abuse problems, among a wide range of other mental health conditions. And as researchers affiliated with the American Psychological Association have continually pointed out, dialectic behavioral therapy is one of the most effective evidence-based treatments for these mental health disorders.
In a dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) session, clients work to develop four types of skills:
Mindfulness
DBT teaches the art of thinking, acting, and being in the moment, unburdened by history or expectations for the future. Clients learn to be in the here and now without judgment, observing feelings and urges without needing to “fix” them.
Distress tolerance
With DBT, clients learn to handle emotional pain, frustration, and disappointment without falling apart or surrendering to destructive coping mechanisms.
Interpersonal effectiveness
As they strive for empowerment, clients learn how to identify and ask for what they genuinely want and need.
Emotional regulation
DBT helps clients take charge of their emotional lives, so they will no longer suffer from difficult or painful feelings.
A dialectical behavior therapy program most often incorporates both individual therapy and group sessions.
What to Expect
At a strong dialectical behavioral therapy program like the one at Promises Behavioral Health, we use three patient-based approaches in combination. These include:
Mindfulness
For this kind of therapeutic training, patients spend time in a classroom situation. In these sessions, you will learn and discuss specific behavioral skills and their importance, and utilize role-playing as a way of practicing how to interact with others in new ways that are more healthy.
Distress tolerance
In individual therapy, you will build upon what you have learned and practiced in your group sessions. More specifically, you will adapt and discuss how to apply the new behaviors you have been learning to real-life experiences that you have had, or can expect to have in the future.
Distress tolerance
In individual therapy, you will build upon what you have learned and practiced in your group sessions. More specifically, you will adapt and discuss how to apply the new behaviors you have been learning to real-life experiences that you have had, or can expect to have in the future.
These three parts are the core of our dialectical behavioral therapy program, but there is another essential component that happens behind the scenes. Every week, your therapists and counselors will meet to discuss your progress and to brainstorm ways that they can ensure that they are meeting your therapy goals. This time for reflection is, of course, a hugely important component of your overall journey to well-being, and a key to our helping you get your life back on track.
The Healing Power of DBT
As a specialized form of cognitive behavior therapy, DBT lifts the barriers that prevent men and women from achieving health, happiness, and freedom. Through DBT, those suffering from mental health disorders can learn how to accept who they are as a prologue to profound personal change.
A dialectic behavioral therapy program is also beneficial in treating other conditions, such as substance abuse disorders. Dialectical behavior therapy for addiction helps you:
Understand the root causes of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
Learn healthy coping mechanisms to combat triggers and cravings
Identify and change negative thinking patterns, emotions, and actions
Gain a greater understanding of yourself
Your Road to Recovery
Recovery from a mental health or substance abuse disorder is an involved process. When your mental health symptoms become severe, you can often neglect your physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Indeed, overwhelming symptoms can even make it difficult to complete the most routine of daily responsibilities, such as going to work or socializing with others.
When your mental health symptoms degrade, treatment takes time because your brain chemistry needs to re-adjust. Medications can help return neurotransmitter levels back to their normal range. However, it can sometimes take several weeks for them to become effective. When you struggle with an addiction, your drug and alcohol use can:
- Cause legal and financial problems
- Damage your physical and emotional health
- Impair your judgment
- Hurt your personal relationship
- Prevent you from working or going to school
A dialectic behavioral therapy program is, therefore, especially useful when you are in the process of stabilizing your mental health. It allows you to establish and practice new, healthy routines. Moreover, like mental health issues, recovery from addiction takes time. You not only do you have to train your brain to re-learn how to release neurotransmitters properly. In addition, you must also give your body the time it needs to repair itself. As a result, it is a good idea to seek treatment through addiction treatment center programs.
Finding Help Today
Are you trapped in addiction or crippled by mental health symptoms? If so, reaching out for help is the most important step in the recovery process. Evidence-based treatments, such as a dialectical behavior therapy program, can significantly reduce your symptoms and help you achieve life-long recovery. Furthermore, at Promises Behavioral Health, we offer treatment for several addictions, including:
We offer a variety of addiction treatments, include:
If you are ready to start your recovery process or want to know more about dialectical behavior therapy for addiction and mental health at Promises Behavioral Health, contact us today at 844.875.5609.