Utilizing Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Addiction

Many people seek addiction treatment but have difficulty maintaining sobriety over the long term. Often, there are underlying issues that contribute to substance misuse, such as mental health conditions, relationship problems, and everyday stressors like having a demanding job or worrying about finances. If these issues aren’t effectively managed through addiction therapy, it can be much more challenging to sustain recovery. While traditional addiction therapy modalities like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can be beneficial for most people in recovery, it may not be the best fit for everyone.

If you’ve tried therapy for treating addiction or other mental health challenges but have returned to substance misuse, it may be time to try a different approach. At Promises Brazos Valley, we offer various therapies in College Station, Texas, including dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). This therapeutic approach has been proven to be effective even for those who haven’t achieved the desired results through other therapies like CBT.

What To Know About Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Addiction Treatment

Dialectical behavior therapy is a unique form of therapy in that it emphasizes a balance between acceptance and change. When you’re experiencing a challenge like addiction, you might stay stuck in negative thoughts and emotions about your situation, feeling powerless to make changes.

Rather than fixating on your problems and ruminating on what’s not going right in your life, dialectical behavior therapy for addiction teaches you how to practice acceptance of your current state. Keep in mind that acceptance isn’t the same as allowing things to remain as they are. Instead, you recognize your current situation, understand the factors that led to it, and identify the changes needed to achieve a fulfilling and sober lifestyle.

Understanding DBT Skills for Addiction Recovery

Unlike cognitive-behavioral therapy, which focuses on identifying and restructuring negative thought patterns, dialectical behavior therapy emphasizes acceptance. How does this work for someone in recovery? Techniques you may learn in treatment that demonstrate how DBT applies to recovery include the following:

• Mindfulness – Emotional dysregulation often occurs alongside addiction, which makes sense because if you’re having difficulty managing emotional distress, you’re more likely to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol. Mindfulness techniques help you stay in the present moment, observe your thoughts and feelings without judgment, and cultivate self-awareness. This can help you better regulate your emotions and avoid impulsive, destructive behaviors like misusing substances.
• Distress tolerance – Distress tolerance is a valuable skill for anyone, but especially for those in recovery. While you’ll learn ways to manage triggers during your therapy sessions, you can’t prevent every stressor in your life. Distress tolerance teaches you how to cope with stressors to keep them from derailing your recovery. This may include distracting yourself, self-soothing, or removing yourself from the situation.
• Emotional regulation – Emotional regulation is about increasing your resilience to stress and uncomfortable emotions. You’ll learn to identify your triggers and intentionally replace feelings of distress with positive emotions. This takes the focus off negative thoughts and decreases their power over you.
• Interpersonal effectiveness – Unfortunately, communication skills aren’t intuitive, so if you don’t learn them at home or school, you may have more difficulty in your relationships. Interpersonal effectiveness involves improving your communication skills, learning how to set healthy boundaries, and building harmonious relationships. Interpersonal effectiveness is beneficial for those in recovery because it strengthens your connections with others while improving your sense of self-worth.

With DBT skills, you’ll learn how to advocate for your needs, express yourself effectively, and handle conflicts more constructively.

Benefit from Going to Dialectical Behavior Therapy at Promises Brazos Valley

If you’re interested in learning dialectical behavior therapy skills to support your recovery, contact Brazos Valley at 979.426.0086 or fill out our online form. We offer DBT and other therapeutic modalities as part of our residential and outpatient treatment programs. Call us now to get started on your path to lasting recovery.