Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is a kind of cognitive-behavioral therapy that concentrates on helping people build a life worth living. It was developed for people who experience emotions intensely. If you or someone you love is suffering from a mental health problem, there is dialectical behavior therapy available in San Diego, CA. Here, we’ll take a look at DBT and how California Healing Center can help.
- Eating disorders
- Substance use disorders (SUDs)
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
The term “dialectical” references the core philosophy of DBT. This philosophy stresses the joining together of opposites. Individuals are taught to accept themselves and their current situation, and at the same time, they work towards making positive changes in their lives.
DBT works by helping people recognize their negative thought patterns and behavior so they can change them. It also helps individuals establish coping mechanisms to help manage difficult emotions. This helps improve relationships with others and build their own self-worth and self-respect.
DBT is made up of these key components:
- Individual Therapy
Individuals meet with their therapist one-on-one to talk about their specific difficulties and goals.
- Group Skills Training
Group sessions where individuals learn and practice DBT skills.
- Phone Coaching
Between sessions, individuals can contact their therapist for guidance and support.
- Therapist Consultation Team
Therapists trained in DBT meet regularly to confer with each other and receive support from their peers.
How DBT Helps with Mental Health Challenges?
The Four Core Skills of DBT
A range of skills are taught in DBT, and they fall into four main categories:
DBT includes mindfulness practice. Mindfulness helps people be more present in the moment and aware of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors without judgment. It emphasizes being completely present and not stressing about what occurred in the past or might occur in the future.
Individuals learn skills to help them tolerate distress and cope with troublesome emotions and situations without using unhealthy coping mechanisms. This means learning that it’s not necessary to have an extreme reaction every time something stressful happens. A person can easily live with stress if they use their coping skills.
DBT teaches people how to recognize, understand, and regulate their emotions effectively. This is particularly helpful for people who experience emotions very intensely or have problems managing their emotional reactions.
This is about how the person works with others. People learn to improve communication and interpersonal skills by learning how to speak to someone and express what they need without getting emotional. It also includes setting boundaries and realizing it’s okay to say no. This helps build and maintain healthy relationships.
Conditions Treated with DBT
- Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
- Suicidal behavior
- Self-harming behavior
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Eating disorders (especially binge eating disorder and bulimia)
- Substance use disorder (SUD)
- Depression
- Anxiety
DBT is especially beneficial for people who experience:
- Intense mood swings
- Suicidal ideations
- Unstable relationships
- Self-harming behavior
It’s important to notice that the reason DBT has proved to be so effective for treating these conditions is that each one is believed to be linked to issues that come from unhealthy or problematic attempts to control negative, intense emotions. Instead of depending on training that results in problems for the person, DBT helps them learn healthier ways to cope.
Benefits of DBT for Long-Term Recovery
- manage their emotions,
- learn to tolerate distress,
- effectively maneuver relationships, and
- maintain mindfulness.
By practicing the four core skills, they will have stronger interpersonal skills and be able to reduce self-destructive behaviors. In the long term, individuals are more able to identify patterns that promote their problematic behaviors and handle the situation before it becomes a problem. It all combines to provide them with more ability to adapt to the challenges in life.
DBT for Trauma and PTSD
- Opposite Action
This involves the individual taking action that’s opposite to their urge to take part in unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as avoidance or self-harm.
- Radical Acceptance
By practicing this skill, individuals learn to accept reality as it is without resisting or judging. This is helpful for processing traumatic experiences.
- Self-Soothing
This is a skill that involves using sensory experiences to comfort and calm yourself. It may be taking a warm bath to calm music.
- Grounding Techniques
Grounding techniques involve using the senses to link to the present moment. This is helpful for managing dissociation and flashbacks.
What to Expect During DBT Sessions?
Group skills training sessions are used to teach the skills necessary to cope with everyday life. These sessions meet weekly for about 1.5 to 2.5 hours and are organized similarly to a class with a leader and co-leader who guide the group through lessons, exercises, and activities. A session might begin with a mindfulness exercise and then progress to reviewing and discussing homework from the last session. Often, sessions include role-play and other class activities. Group members review their wins and struggles of the past week and are reassured to hear others are facing similar situations. New homework may be assigned for the coming week, and a concluding exercise wraps up the session
Individual therapy typically consists of a once-per-week session alone with the therapist, lasting about 45 minutes to an hour. The therapist will propose the concept of self-acceptance and methods for changing destructive behaviors. During the session, the individual practices applying the core skills outlined previously.
Often, there are homework assignments that require the individual to observe their emotions over the next week and practice the DBT skills in their everyday life. This may involve recording their daily emotions and actions on a “diary card,” which will be reviewed by the therapist at the next session. The individual will discuss the homework they’ve done during the week, along with any setbacks or progress they’ve made.
Why Choose California Healing Centers for DBT in San Diego?
For people struggling with mental health disorders, a residential treatment program can be a life-changing experience. It provides the support, intensive care, and structure that helps people achieve a lasting recovery. At California Healing Centers, our residential treatment offers:
- Residential treatment provides a high level of care with 24-hour care for people with severe mental health disorders. Residents have access to a team of mental health professionals. This provides a comprehensive treatment that considers all aspects of the person’s mental health.
- Living in a residential treatment environment offers a safe and structured place, away from the everyday stressors and triggers of life. Thus, people are able to focus on recovery without distractions and temptations that can hinder progress.
- Each resident also receives an individualized treatment plan that addresses their personal needs and goals. This makes sure that they get the most effective treatment possible.
- In residential treatment, there are opportunities for people to associate with others who are dealing with similar experiences. Peer support is a valuable asset in the recovery process.
- Dialectical behavior therapy in our San Diego treatment center teaches individuals the skills they need for life and helps them recognize their triggers and create strategies to help prevent relapse.
- Residential treatment at CHC provides medication management. This ensures that people are taking their medications as prescribed. It also monitors any side effects.
Residential treatment is recommended when outpatient treatment hasn’t been successful. It is possible that the person needs a higher level of care. In addition, if the symptoms are severe and hindering daily life, a residential program may be needed to stabilize the individual and prevent more deterioration. If the person is a danger to themself or others, residential may be needed to keep them safe. If the person has a limited support system, residential care provides the support and structure needed.
Our therapists are licensed, experienced professionals who consider every aspect of your well-being. We specialize in treating mental health conditions and trauma-related disorders with evidence-based behavior therapies and holistic therapy such as yoga therapy. We are dedicated to helping people find healing from a number of conditions, including:
- Anxiety
- PTSD
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Personality Disorders
- Bipolar Disorder
- Depression
- Other Trauma-Related Issues
Getting Started with DBT at California Healing Centers
Are you struggling? Maybe you just feel that something is “off,” and you can’t figure out what is wrong. Frequently, a mental health issue co-occurs with a substance abuse issue. If you don’t know why you feel the way you do but you want relief, there is help for you at California Healing Centers.
Is someone you care about struggling with a mental health disorder? It’s usually easier to see it in someone else. If this is your situation, denying it will only allow it to get worse. Help yourself or someone else by contacting us today. It’s as simple as clicking a link, but you need to make the first move.
