Healing the Core of Addiction Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Some people have difficulty regulating their emotions and navigating challenging situations. Psychotherapy is an excellent tool for addressing emotional and behavioral issues caused by substance use disorder (SUD) or mental health issues. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is one of the most popular and effective forms of psychotherapy. According to Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation, a survey of DBT mental health treatment reported that “participants found DBT to be a life changing experience that enabled further self-development in the years following the programme, gave participants a sense of control in their lives and skills to manage difficulties, and contributed to improved relationships and connections with others.” Exclusive Hawaii Rehab uses DBT and other evidence-based therapies to help clients heal.

What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?

DBT was initially designed to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD). However, researchers have found it helpful in treating a range of other mental health disorders and symptoms, including self-harming or suicidal behaviors. “Dialectical” refers to combining the opposite ideas of change and acceptance. People participating in DBT therapy are shown how to accept their circumstances while also taking steps to make healthy changes to improve their quality of life.

A few things that set DBT apart from other forms of psychotherapy include:

• Mindfulness-based techniques
• Acceptance-oriented interventions
• Dialectical philosophy

DBT is ideal for treating complex mental health issues, including SUD and dual diagnosis. According to Addiction Science and Clinical Practice, “When DBT is successful, the patient learns to envision, articulate, pursue, and sustain goals that are independent of his or her history of out-of-control behavior, including substance abuse, and is better able to grapple with life’s ordinary problems.” Clients are guided through identifying and replacing maladaptive behaviors and thought processes. DBT also helps people overcome ambivalence about treatment and feel motivated to make healthy lifestyle changes.

Individual and Group Dialectical Behavior Therapy

DBT is a valuable tool for both one-on-one and group therapy sessions. Exclusive Hawaii Rehab utilizes DBT to help clients accept their diagnosis and embrace the need to change unhealthy behaviors. Many people benefit from DBT in both individual and group therapy sessions.

Individual DBT therapy sessions allow clients to focus more on their specific needs. In addition, most DBT therapists give out weekly homework in one-on-one sessions to ensure clients and therapists have more time to delve into the root cause of SUD and mental health issues.

Group therapy is an excellent space for teaching essential life and coping skills to individuals in recovery. According to the International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, research findings suggest that “a DBT skills group can effectively treat persons with a wide variety of diagnoses in a community mental health center.” Group therapy gives peers an opportunity to encourage and uplift one another while providing guidance on how to manage their condition using various DBT techniques.

What Conditions Are Treated Using Dialectical Behavior Therapy?

DBT is a clinical tool to help clients identify and understand complex and difficult feelings. In addition, the therapy provides clients with the insight and skills development they need to address complicated feelings. According to Psychiatry, “The patient populations for which DBT has the most empirical support include parasuicidal women with borderline personality disorder (BPD), but there have been promising findings for patients with BPD and substance use disorders (SUDs), persons who meet criteria for binge-eating disorder, and depressed elderly patients.”

Some of the most common mental health issues treated using DBT include:

• Depression
• BPD
• Self-harming and suicidal behaviors
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Mental health disorders affect how the brain functions. In some cases, mental health problems directly influence and alter physical structures in the brain and other body systems. Individuals with dual diagnosis or multiple mental health disorders benefit most from DBT. Therapy helps them cope with physical, emotional, or cognitive changes caused by substance abuse or mental health disorders. According to the Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, studies into the effectiveness of DBT revealed that “DBT increased grey matter volume of brain regions that are critically implicated in emotion regulation and higher-order functions, such as mentalizing.”

What to Expect During Treatment Sessions

People participating in DBT sessions can expect to do the following:

• Discuss thoughts, feelings, and behaviors without judgment
• Use simplified ideas and symbolism to describe thoughts and feelings
• Create recovery goals and discuss how to achieve them
• Use mindfulness exercises to reduce intrusive thoughts and rumination
• Learn to identify and replace unhelpful feelings, beliefs, or behaviors

Clients may be asked to journal and do homework between sessions to help track patterns and changes in their behavior.

Psychotherapy at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab

Exclusive Hawaii Rehab uses individual and group therapy sessions to ensure clients have the skills to manage their condition after completing treatment. Various types of psychotherapy, including DBT, are often combined or used alongside one another to tailor each session to the needs and preferences of the client.

Psychotherapy at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab treats the following:

• Eating disorders (EDs)
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• Mental health disorders

DBT helps clients find positive ways to overcome ambivalence or other challenges in early recovery. Exclusive Hawaii Rehab encourages clients to take advantage of DBT and other forms of psychotherapy during treatment and aftercare to ensure the best possible outcome.