Dialectical Behavior Therapy Programs

PARTICIPATING IN A REHAB PROGRAM INTRODUCES YOU TO BEHAVIORAL COUNSELING. IT’S A GREAT WAY OF DEVELOPING TOOLS YOU NEED TO OVERCOME DYSFUNCTIONAL PATTERNS. MOSTLY EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (CBT). THAT SAID, DID YOU KNOW THAT DIALECTICAL BEHAVIOR THERAPY PROGRAMS ALSO FIND PLENTY OF APPLICATIONS?

WHAT GOES ON IN DIALECTICAL BEHAVIOR THERAPY PROGRAMS

A dialectical behavior therapy program is an outcropping of CBT. It’s an excellent option for a person who qualifies for a dual diagnosis. This means that you might have an underlying mood or personality disorder. Would it surprise you to learn that plenty of people with substance abuse also struggle with mental health issues?

Examples include anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorders. Dialectical behavior therapy programs acknowledge that people with these conditions self-medicate. They might use drugs or alcohol to make symptoms go away. Therefore, it’s essential to address chemical dependency from various angles.

For many, some situations cannot change. They might include triggers such as losses of loved ones or past actions with current consequences. Whereas CBT focuses on change, a dialectical behavior therapy program emphasizes acceptance and promotes balance. It’s an ideal treatment approach when negative emotions threaten to overwhelm you.

VALIDATING YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND EMBRACING PERSONAL GROWTH

Substance abuse weakens your resilience to outside influences. People may have been telling you that it’s all in your head. They didn’t understand mental illness any better than you did. Therefore, they contributed to the pressure you felt.

When you acknowledged your addiction, they might have made you feel like you had moral weaknesses on top of it. It’s a destructive setting. During an inpatient dialectical behavior therapy program, a therapist helps you counteract this understanding. You understand that you’re a good person who made bad choices.

Similarly, you realize that it’s possible to grow, change, and forgive yourself and others. Therefore, you learn how to regain control over strong emotions and balance them. Besides that, you experience what it’s like to face feelings head-on without judgment. Next, you develop processing strategies that remove the need for escaping through drugs or alcohol.

COMBING THE MODALITY WITH OTHER TREATMENTS

The Addiction Science & Clinical Practice Journal recognizes a dialectical behavior therapy program as a tool for reducing substance abuse. However, it’s essential to recognize that this treatment must be part of a larger clinical approach.

Possible therapies include:

• Motivational interviewing, which boosts your commitment to seeking help and implementing new ideas
• Trauma treatment through EMDR and other modalities for removing triggers
• Physical and occupational therapies that encourage physiological healing
• Mindfulness-based stress reduction that teaches you new ways of handling situations you can’t control
• Group therapy, which encourages positive peer relationships and strengthens your self-esteem through encouragement

HOW TO SIGN UP FOR TREATMENT TODAY

Substance abuse won’t improve or go away on its own. Because so many drugs modify your brain’s chemistry, it requires concerted efforts that lead to recovery. Enrolling at a good-quality inpatient rehab facility is an excellent first step. It removes you from stressors and triggers that your home environment might bring on.

Cases in point are the dialectical behavior therapy programs at the Pearl of the Sea Retreat. Therapists meet you at your point of need and assist you in experiencing the personal growth you desire. Don’t allow addiction to hold you hostage any longer.

Call 866-962-1907 today for immediate assistance.