During mental health treatment in Colorado and Illinois, our licensed and certified DBT therapists help clients manage their symptoms and develop skills to build a balanced lifestyle that expresses their true selves.
Psychotherapy is one of the most effective forms of treatment for mental health disorders. One of the most popular forms of psychotherapy used to treat mental illness is dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). The practice was first developed to treat borderline personality disorder but has since evolved to treat other mental health issues as well.
When looking for help for your mental health, trust your treatment to a team of professional clinicians like those at Elevare Behavioral Health. Our mental health treatment facilities in Colorado and Illinois offer a safe and comfortable setting where you can turn your life around. If you’re looking for effective treatment for mental health disorders, Elevare Behavioral Health can help.
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What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?
DBT is a modified form of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) that was initially developed by renowned psychologist Marsha M. Linehan. It was originally designed to treat individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD), but it has since been adapted and used to help people suffering from other mental health issues as well.
What Does Dialectical Behavior Therapy Treat?
Dialectical behavior therapy treats a variety of mental health disorders. It combines elements of CBT and mindfulness practices to help you regulate emotions. It can also help manage distress, improve interpersonal relationships, and develop skills for coping with difficult situations.
- Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Bipolar Disorder (BD)
- Anxiety Disorders
- Depression
- Substance Use Disorders
- Suicidal Ideation and Self-Harm
- Anger Management Issues
DBT is effective in the treatment of mental health disorders and can be particularly beneficial for individuals who struggle to regulate their emotions in a healthy way. It can help individuals identify and change unhealthy behaviors, increase self-awareness, improve communication skills, and develop coping strategies to manage stressors. By learning how to effectively balance acceptance and change, DBT helps individuals find greater satisfaction in life while managing their mental health condition.
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
DBT is effective in treating the patterns of intense emotional instability found in those with borderline personality disorder. It is designed to help people suffering from BPD develop a sense of self-worth while managing difficult situations that could lead to impulsive or destructive behavior such as self-harm and suicide attempts. To do so, DBT helps individuals understand their emotions and regulate them in a healthier way. DBT also teaches skills for better communication and building trust with others.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
DBT can be beneficial for those suffering from trauma-related issues such as PTSD. For this reason, DBT skills are often incorporated into trauma-focused therapy. These skills can help victims of trauma learn how to recognize triggers that could lead to maladaptive trauma responses. DBT skills also help people identify and process difficult emotions associated with trauma. At the same time, DBT therapists provide healthy coping strategies to manage stress, leading to increased self-awareness and improved relationships.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
DBT can assist in the treatment attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Knowing that ADHD causes difficulties in sustaining attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, this neurological disorder often causes impairments in professional settings, family dynamics, and general socialization.
Research shows that specialized DBT focusing on mindfulness, regulation of emotions, interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance, impulsivity, and attention can improve ADHD symptoms. DBT skills training sessions also teach specific skills to alleviate ADHD difficulties affecting organization, planning, motivation, and emotion regulation.
Bipolar Disorder (BD)
DBT can be helpful for individuals with bipolar disorder, especially in helping them manage intense mood swings and emotional dysregulation. DBT can help them identify triggers and learn how to minimize the effects of episodes. Those with bipolar disorder also benefit from learning how to cope with difficult feelings and manage the unpredictable nature of their disorder. Additionally, DBT can help individuals learn how to make better decisions in day-to-day life by helping them recognize patterns that trigger intense shifts in their moods.
Anxiety Disorders
DBT can be especially helpful for those with anxiety disorders, as DBT teaches strategies to help individuals recognize when their anxiety is spiraling out of control and how to prevent it from getting worse. DBT skills can help individuals learn how to regulate their emotions and remain calm in distressing situations. This therapy also helps people learn healthy coping mechanisms to manage their anxiety in order to reduce the risk of panic attacks or other negative fear responses.
Depression
DBT can be used to treat symptoms of depression. This therapy helps individuals learn to accept and acknowledge their emotions, as well as find new ways of coping with them. DBT can also provide cognitive strategies to help people reframe negative thoughts or thought patterns that are contributing to depression. Additionally, DBT provides tools for self-care and stress management, which are important components of overcoming depression.
Substance Use Disorders
DBT skills can be integrated into substance abuse treatment to help individuals manage cravings, cope with triggers, and prevent relapse. DBT emphasizes developing new coping strategies so that individuals can find healthier ways to deal with strong negative emotions such as anger, sadness, and shame. As a result, DBT skills can help individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders find balance and abstain from drug and alcohol use.
In a study on DBT skills training programs for alcohol use disorder and other substance use disorders, over 95% of people completed the program, and roughly 80% maintained their sobriety throughout the entirety of treatment. While the remaining 20% of individuals experienced a lapse in substance use, the study detected no significant relapse among any of the participants.
Suicidal Ideation & Self-Harm
DBT’s focus on distress tolerance and emotion regulation is beneficial for those struggling with suicidal thoughts and behaviors. It helps individuals understand what leads to distress and teaches them how to better manage those feelings, rather than attempting to avoid or suppress them. DBT also is effective in reducing self-harm behaviors such as cutting, bruising, or other forms of self-injury. As individuals participate in DBT, they can learn skills to cope with distressing emotions and urges through research-based mental exercises and relaxation techniques.
Anger Management Issues
DBT can be a powerful tool for those struggling with anger management issues. It helps individuals recognize their trigger points and how to self-regulate when faced with overwhelming emotions. DBT also teaches people new, healthier ways to express themselves when upset. Clinical studies surrounding the use of DBT treatment for anger issues found that clients experienced a significant reduction in feelings of anger and hostility as well as aggressive and violent behaviors during and after treatment.
At Elevare, we incorporate DBT therapy as part of your comprehensive treatment plan that includes individual and group therapy sessions. DBT techniques can be applied during therapy and daily life, helping individuals manage their symptoms, develop coping strategies, and work towards their goals.
The focus of DBT is on both understanding and changing destructive behaviors and thinking patterns, such as:
- Abandonment fears
- Rejection sensitivity
- Anxiety and paranoia
- Cognitive distortions
- Emotional dysregulation and outbursts
- Trauma-related psychological distress
- Chronic feelings of emptiness
- Disassociation
- Relationships conflicts
- Employment issues
- Unstable self-image
- Low self-esteem
- Disordered eating habits
- Substance abuse
- Self-harm
- Suicidal ideation and attempts
Overall, DBT provides healthy alternative coping skills and techniques that empower individuals to develop a healthy sense of self through mindful meditation practices, relaxation techniques, communication skills, and a better understanding of their emotions. With the help of DBT, individuals can learn to recognize and modify their negative thoughts and behaviors to make positive changes in their lives.
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What Are DBT Skills?
During dialectical behavior therapy, your DBT-certified therapist will guide you through the process of recognizing and managing your emotions, learning to tolerate distress, improving relationships, and working towards your goals. Your therapist will help you identify maladaptive behavior patterns that are preventing you from achieving your goals. We’ll use proven techniques such as mindfulness meditation, cognitive restructuring, communication skills training, problem solving strategies, and more to assist you in creating healthier behaviors.
Throughout treatment, our therapists guide clients through DBT skills training groups and psychoeducation courses founded in the four modules of DBT: mindfulness, emotional regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance.
Mindfulness Skills
Mindfulness skills involve focusing attention on the present moment and recognizing one’s thoughts, feelings, and body sensations without judgment. Mindfulness helps individuals to be less reactive to stressful situations by giving them a greater sense of control over their emotions by practicing “what” skills and “how” skills. These DBT skills also promote self-awareness and acceptance, allowing for more accurate perspectives when making decisions and reacting to situations.
Emotion Regulation Skills
Emotion regulation skills help individuals understand how their emotions affect their behavior and how to manage intense emotions more effectively. This includes recognizing triggers, developing coping strategies, and understanding the triggers that can lead to maladaptive behaviors. For instance, DBT therapists provide handouts such as the emotions wheel to assist clients in recognizing and defining their emotions without judgment or shame.
Interpersonal Skills
Interpersonal skills enable individuals to better communicate and interact with others. They involve effective listening, expressing oneself confidently and respectfully, managing conflict and disagreements in a constructive manner, and being able to connect with others on an emotional level. By developing these skills, individuals can strengthen their relationships and foster more meaningful connections with those around them.
Distress Tolerance Skills
Distress tolerance skills involve managing difficult emotions and situations without resorting to unhealthy coping mechanisms. This can include learning how to cope with boredom, tolerating distress without escalating it into a crisis, developing healthy problem-solving skills, and being able to find constructive activities in times of stress that are calming or distracting. Knowing how to use these strategies can be invaluable when dealing with stressful situations.
Comprehensive Mental Health Services
At Elevare Behavioral Health, we believe that no one should have to face the struggles of mental health alone. Our compassionate clinicians create a safe, judgment-free space for you to freely explore your feelings and experiences. We strive to help you gain insight into others’ perspectives while also validating your thoughts and emotions. In offering DBT, our clinical team works closely with you to bring balance and stability to your mental health.
Our professional team is here to give you all of the information you need to help you make an informed decision for your best health. Give us a call, anytime.
