Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, or DBT, is a type of therapy that has grown in popularity in recent years. DBT helps people with borderline personality disorder. However, it has since been found to be helpful for a wide range of mental health conditions.
If you are struggling with your emotions and find yourself in difficult situations frequently, DBT may be the right therapy for you. It can help you learn how to manage your emotions more effectively and deal with challenging situations more healthily. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy may be an excellent treatment choice if you want to live a happier, more fulfilling life. Learn more about this type of therapy and how it can help you.
What Is Dialectical Behavioral Therapy?
DBT is based on cognitive behavioral therapy but with an added focus on Dialectical thinking; this means that DBT aims to help people understand and accept both sides of a situation. Dialectical thinking is a way of looking at things that sees both the positive and negative aspects of a situation. DBT aims to help people find a balance in their lives between different opposing forces.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy has four main goals:
- Help reduce distress
- Help improve your ability to function in daily life
- Help you to learn new skills
- Help you develop a better understanding of yourself
What Can DBT Treat?
DBT is a therapy form that helps people understand and cope with their emotions in difficult situations. It can treat various mental health conditions, such as borderline personality disorder, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse disorders, mood disorders, and anxiety disorders.
If you’re struggling with any of these conditions, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy may be able to help you.
How Does DBT Work?
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is usually offered in weekly group sessions, as well as individual sessions. In group therapy, you’ll learn skills that can help you manage your emotions and deal with difficult situations. You’ll also have the chance to practice these skills with others in the group.
Individual therapy sessions are typically focused on helping you apply the skills you’ve learned in group therapy to your own life. Your therapist will work with you to identify your goals for treatment and help you find ways to achieve them. DBT usually consists of four types of treatment: skills training, individual therapy, phone coaching, and peer consultation team meetings.
Skills Training
Skills training is where you’ll learn new skills to help you manage your emotions and cope with difficult situations. Skills training is typically done in group therapy sessions.
Individual Therapy
In individual therapy sessions, you’ll have the opportunity to discuss your progress and goals with your therapist. Your therapist will help you adapt the skills from group therapy to your daily life and identify areas that require extra work.
Phone Coaching
Phone coaching is an optional component of DBT that allows you to call your therapist between sessions to get extra support. This coaching can be helpful if you’re struggling to apply the skills you’ve learned in therapy or if you’re feeling particularly overwhelmed.
Peer Consultation Team Meetings
Peer consultation team meetings are where your therapist meets with other DBT providers treating you, such as the group leader, to discuss your progress and treatment plan. These meetings provide an opportunity for your therapist to get feedback from other professionals about how you’re doing in therapy and ensure that everyone is on the same page regarding your treatment.
The consultation team is there to assist therapists in staying motivated and competent so that they may deliver the best treatment possible.
What Is DBT Skills Training?
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy skills training is typically done in group therapy sessions and consists of four modules – mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Each module is designed to help you with a specific mental health aspect. For example, the mindfulness module teaches you to be more aware of your thoughts and emotions. The distress tolerance module looks at how to deal with difficult situations without making them worse.
The emotion regulation module teaches you how to manage your emotions healthily. And the interpersonal effectiveness module trains you on how to communicate with others in a way that gets your needs met.
You’ll have the chance to practice these skills in group therapy sessions and apply them to your own life.
What Are the Stages of DBT?
DBT begins with a pretreatment phase that assesses whether DBT is the right type of therapy for you. It usually involves meeting with a therapist to discuss your goals and making a commitment to do the therapy. It then follows four stages of treatment.
Stage 1
The first stage of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy focuses on helping you reduce your most destructive behaviors. This may include things like self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and drug abuse.
Stage 2
The second stage of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy concentrates on helping you improve your ability to function in daily life. This may involve learning new skills to help you manage your emotions and cope with difficult situations.
Stage 3
The third stage of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy treatment continues by helping you continue to progress in your recovery. In this stage, treatment focuses on self-esteem and interpersonal relationships.
Stage 4
The fourth stage of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is about helping you maintain your progress by finding ways to live a happier life. This includes finding ways to pursue personal goals and strengthen relationships with others.
How Long Will I Need to Do DBT?
The length of time you will need to go to therapy differs from person to person. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is typically done in stages, with each stage lasting for a specific time.
Your therapist will work with you to determine how long you will need to stay in each stage. You may need to go through DBT for a few months to a few years. It all depends on your individual needs and progress.
How Do I Get Started With DBT?
If you’re interested in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, a google search for ‘Dialectical Behavioral Therapy near me’ will bring up a list of consultants qualified in your area. You can then ask your doctor for his advice on picking a consultant. After reviewing your symptoms and history, your doctor will likely have some suggestions on the best types of therapy and therapists suited for you.
Learn Skills for Living a Happier Life Today
DBT can be an effective treatment for people who experience very intense negative emotions. Committing to DBT therapy is vital, and finding the right therapist for you is an essential step in that process. The sooner you start treatment, the sooner you will improve your quality of life.
If you’re looking for a Dialectical Behavioral Therapy consultant in South Florida, Comprehensive Wellness Centres can help. Our team of experts is qualified to help you manage your emotions, deal with difficult situations and get the most out of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you live a happier life.
