Navigating the winding road of mental health can often feel like traversing unfamiliar territory. We strive to illuminate that path for you using dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Initially developed for managing borderline personality disorder, DBT has proven its value in treating a wide range of emotional and behavioral issues. This adaptive therapeutic approach blends cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness strategies. Read on as we unpack why DBT is transforming lives, and how it might be the breakthrough treatment for rejuvenating your mental wellness.
Understanding Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that was initially created in the 1980s to treat people with borderline personality disorder. Today, it is widely used as a treatment option for various mental health conditions, such as eating disorders, substance abuse, depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
The primary goal of DBT is to help individuals develop skills that allow them to manage their emotions and cope with stress more effectively. Unlike traditional talk therapy sessions, DBT incorporates practical coping strategies such as mindfulness, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness and distress tolerance. These methods aim to empower patients and provide them with the tools they need to handle life’s inevitable challenges.
Core Principles of DBT
There are four core principles underpinning dialectical behavioral therapy:
- Mindfulness: This aims to increase awareness of internal thoughts and emotions by deliberately staying centered in the present moment.
- Distress tolerance: This helps individuals learn healthy ways of dealing with painful emotional situations without resorting to harmful behaviors.
- Interpersonal Effectiveness: This teaches individuals how to communicate assertively and confidently while maintaining healthy interpersonal relationships.
- Emotion Regulation: This focuses on managing intense emotions like anger or guilt by understanding their origins and finding healthy expression outlets.
Each of these core principles is incorporated into various techniques implemented during DBT sessions, such as individual therapy, skills training classes, family coaching and phone consultations.
Through these methodologies and principles, patients can better understand themselves, regulate emotional cues that are potentially damaging, and retain interpersonal connections.
Understanding DBT and its core principles can help individuals seeking mental health treatment, identify if it is the right treatment for them. In the following sections, we will delve more into the processes involved in DBT therapy.
Processes Involved in DBT
DBT is a type of psychotherapy that uses mindfulness techniques and behavioral strategies to help people who struggle with emotional regulation, interpersonal conflicts and self-destructive tendencies. It typically includes both individual and group therapy sessions. In individual sessions, the therapist examines the client’s behavior in a non-judgmental way and helps them identify their personal values, beliefs, thoughts, and feelings. Specific skill training groups are then used to enhance emotional control and relationship building.
In addition, DBT emphasizes validation as an essential tool for promoting a genuine connection between therapists and clients. To feel seen, heard, accepted, and understood, clients must believe that others are acknowledging their emotions. Lastly, phone coaching is available at any time outside of group sessions or individual therapy for real-time use of skills in life situations.
DBT Services
Idaho DBT is a mental health treatment center, providing comprehensive DBT services that include individual therapy, group therapy, family consultation, and phone coaching services. Their competent therapists provide evidence-based treatment to struggling teenagers, adults or families regarding substance abuse disorders.
Their DBT program covers various themes related to emotional expression, behavior rigidity, including interpersonal effectiveness skills (the process of meeting your own needs while conserving others’ respect and relationships), emotion regulation skills (helping manage intense emotions), distress tolerance skills (enhances one’s ability to tolerate stress without resorting to destructive behaviors) and mind-body skills (mindfulness practices like meditation).
For example, Wendy Douglas, LCSW, MSPH, founded Idaho DBT in 2012 and has been practicing DBT for more than 16 years. She is passionate about helping those who struggle with emotional dysregulation by providing warm and compassionate care through an evidence-based process designed for teens and adults alike.
Therapies and Programs Offered
Idaho DBT offers a comprehensive suite of therapies and programs to help people struggling with mental health issues. Their programs incorporate Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), an evidence-based treatment approach that helps individuals gain improved emotional regulation skills, cope with stress effectively, develop healthy relationships, and manage impulsive or self-destructive behaviors.
Other programs include Individual DBT Therapy, Comprehensive DBT Program, DBT Groups , DBT For Teens and Families and Radically Open DBT Therapy. Trained professionals oversee the implementation of these programs in individual, couple, family and group therapy settings.
Benefits of DBT for Mental Health
Focusing primarily on Dialectical Behavior Therapy offered at Idaho DBT, this therapeutic intervention has been extensively studied and shown to be effective in treating several types of mental health disorders. These include borderline personality disorder, depression, anxiety, substance abuse disorders, eating disorders and PTSD. However, even people without a diagnosed mental health condition can benefit from the skills taught in DBT sessions.
To put it simply, learning DBT skills is like filling up a toolbox with effective tools to manage various life situations as we navigate our way through life’s ups and downs.
The program is geared towards skill-building that can help people function effectively in their respective environments by managing emotions and behavior appropriately, thus reducing the likelihood of burnout or ‘burning bridges’ in relationships and leading to fewer crises over time.
A few examples of specific DBT skills are below:
| Skill | Description |
| Mindfulness | Help individuals learn how to feel more present in the moment |
| Emotion Regulation | It helps one understand emotions more accurately |
| Interpersonal | It helps improve communication and relationships with others |
| Distress Tolerance | It helps one manage, tolerate, and accept distressing situations without making things worse |
Given the many benefits of DBT treatment, it’s no wonder Idaho DBT receives much praise from its clients.
It’s essential to keep in mind that there is no magical cure for mental health problems. However, through therapy sessions with trained professionals utilizing approaches like DBT at Idaho DBT, individuals can develop proper skills to better help them manage their symptoms effectively.
Life Post DBT: Taking Control of Your Mental Health
Completing a DBT program can be a significant landmark in one’s mental health journey. It’s not about being cured but about acquiring skills for more effective and satisfying living. The therapy might last between six months and a year, depending on an individual’s specific needs. After completing a DBT program, the client must take charge of their mental health by applying the practical skills acquired in various life situations.
For instance, when an individual faces any triggering situation, they need to use mindfulness skills to self-soothe and regulate emotions. Similarly, if interpersonal conflicts arise, they could apply communication skills learned through DBT therapy. The end goal is to allow these actions and behaviors to serve as healthy coping mechanisms that will lead to long-lasting change.
Life post-DBT also involves developing a comprehensive treatment plan with the therapist and outlined aftercare recommendations, such as continuing individual therapy sessions or joining support groups. It’s crucial to have accountability structures in place, as they help measure progress and expectations while encouraging consistency.
Recognizing that continued practice of DBT skills requires effort is essential to maintaining successful outcomes. Remember that healing is undoubtedly non-linear and requires commitment to attain desired therapeutic goals. Post-DBT requires ensuring that the acquired tools are practically applied to everyday situations and having accountability structures in place.
Deep Dive into Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Ready to take control of your emotional well-being? Dive deeper into the world of Dialectical Behavior Therapy with us at Idaho DBT. Our compassionate team is here to guide you through proven strategies for managing emotions and building a life worth living. Reach out today at 310-994-2317 and let’s start our journey towards a more fulfilling life together.
