DBT, or dialectical behavioral therapy, has gone from a little-known treatment to one of the world’s most popular and effective therapies in just a few years. DBT is widely used in rehabilitation facilities. Furthermore, certain of the most successful psychotherapeutic modalities incorporate these potentially life-saving technique components. Dialectical therapy services may be very beneficial to your recovery for various reasons. This is why Ashwood Recovery considers DBT part of our mental health care and addiction treatments.
What Are Dialectical Therapy Services?
DBT was created to assist those who have borderline personality disorder or BPD. A borderline personality disorder is a severe mental illness that affects how people deal with their emotions, recover from sadness, tolerate abandonment, and avoid manipulating others. Many individuals suffering from BPD previously spent their lives on ineffective therapies. When DBT arrived on the scene, it was a significant game-changer.
DBT was initially developed to help people who had problems with their emotions and behaviors. However, over time, it became clear that DBT may also be used to treat various emotional and behavioral challenges effectively. Depression, anxiety, and certain personality disorders are among them. Additionally, substance issues have been reported in those suffering from additional mental health concerns. Dialectical therapy appears to be quite successful; evidence suggests that it can help many individuals. It’s especially true for individuals who have difficulty controlling their emotions and managing strong feelings.
How Does Dialectical Therapy in Rehab Work?
How do dialectical therapy and rehab work together? One of DBT’s many strengths is that it’s extremely formulaic. This makes it relatively easy to track progress and ensure the therapy is used correctly.
A DBT therapist offers help in a validating, judgment-free context that makes it easier to express yourself. There are four distinct components to the therapy itself:
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Therapist consultation
- As-needed coaching
DBT is similar to other mindfulness-based treatments. Specifically, it focuses on noticing and neutrally analyzing emotions, then re-framing them. For instance, a man who feels suicidal because of a breakup would be encouraged to notice these feelings. He would then consider why he might be experiencing them, as well as better ways to cope with his distress.
Am I a Good Fit for Dialectical Behavior Treatment?
Dialectical behavioral therapy has been carefully studied, and thousands of patients have seen positive results with this approach. That’s true even when other treatments have failed. Like all treatments, though, DBT is not for everyone. It tends to work best for people who struggle with emotion management and social skills.
This means that your diagnosis isn’t all that matters. You must also consider how your condition affects your daily life. One person with depression may primarily struggle with sadness, making her a poor candidate for DBT. But a person whose depression causes him to lash out at others, desperately seek emotional support, or lie might be well-suited to DBT.
Is a dialectical behavior treatment program in Boise the right choice for you? Talk to your therapist about blending DBT in with your other treatments. Even if it doesn’t work for you, the therapy is completely safe and will not return your recovery.
How to Choose a DBT Therapist
If you’re considering DBT, be sure to seek out a therapist who has specialized training in the technique. Why? Because the therapy’s popularity has grown, so has the number of practitioners who do it without formal instruction. If you’re looking for a counselor on your own, make certain to ask plenty of questions. A good therapist will be delighted to answer your inquiries promptly. Some questions to get you started include:
- What specific training do you have in DBT?
- How long have you practiced?
- How long have you offered DBT?
- Do you use DBT purely, or do you blend DBT with other methods?
- Am I a good candidate for DBT?
- If DBT doesn’t work, what will we try next?
- How can I track my progress?
- How often will I need to come to therapy?
- Do you develop a personalized treatment plan for each patient, and what can I expect from treatment?
- Are you licensed to practice? In what state?
- Have you ever been disciplined by an oversight board?
Remember, therapy is all about getting results as quickly as feasible. Keep at it, and you may notice improvements. If you don’t see any changes, though, don’t be afraid to try something else or see a new therapist.