Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) in San Diego
In the United States, 21 million people have some form of substance use disorder. The treatment of addiction requires delving into the underlying cause of the problem, and one of the best tools to help you do this is a type of behavioral therapy called dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). Contact Pacific Bay Recovery by filling out the contact form or call us at 619-350-8220 to learn more.
What Is Dialectical Behavioral Therapy in San Diego?
Dialectical behavioral therapy is a form of behavioral therapy that combines two apparently opposite ideas: acceptance and change. DBT specialists help you accept the reality of your life while also helping you make changes to unhelpful patterns.
DBT also focuses on helping you find ways of dealing with stress and regulating your emotions.
Although dialectical behavioral therapy started as a therapeutic option for those with borderline personality disorder, it can help with many mental health conditions, including:
- Substance use disorders
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Eating disorders
- Suicidal behavior
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
When beginning dialectical behavioral therapy in San Diego, CA, there are five key elements you will have to learn. These are:
- Core mindfulness
- Interpersonal effectiveness
- Distress tolerance
- Emotion regulation
It is a therapeutic option that can work in individual therapy sessions as well as in group therapy. Contact Pacific Bay Recovery at 619-350-8220 to begin your recovery journey.
Core Mindfulness
Core mindfulness as part of DBT for drug addiction and alcohol addiction is the practice of living in the present moment and accepting your current reality without judgment.
By focusing on your thoughts, emotions, and sensations without labeling them as good or bad, you can become more aware of your automatic reactions and thoughts. Once you identify your feelings, you can start making positive changes.
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Interpersonal effectiveness is the ability to set boundaries in your relationships and to communicate effectively. As part of DBT for alcohol addiction and drug addiction, it can teach you how to express your needs while maintaining self-respect. A vital component of interpersonal effectiveness is knowing when and how to say “no.”
Distress Tolerance
Dialectical behavioral treatment teaches you how to handle distressing situations without making them worse. It can aid you in accepting the reality of your circumstances while helping you find healthier ways to cope with stress.
Emotion Regulation
Emotion regulation teaches you how to manage your emotions in healthier ways. When undergoing alcohol or drug rehab with DBT, you can learn to identify and label your emotions as well as how to express them in constructive ways. DBT can also help you fact-check and problem-solve to change negative behaviors.
The Stages of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
When turning to San Diego dialectical behavioral therapy, you can expect to go through four stages of treatment.
The first stage can help you stabilize and reduce life-threatening behaviors like self-harm, substance abuse, and suicide. DBT can help you reach this goal by beginning to teach you emotion regulation and distress tolerance.
The second stage that dialectical behavioral therapy specialists focus on can help you identify negative thoughts and behavioral patterns. During this stage, you will begin the treatment of any traumas you have that may be preventing you from achieving your recovery goals.
The third stage is when you can relearn how to live a healthy and productive life. At this stage, you can gain more stability while having the chance to define your goals. The purpose of the third stage of DBT is to encourage you to live your life and face challenging situations in positive ways.
During stage four, you will get a chance to find deeper meaning in your life while you strengthen relationships and learn to experience happiness.
Contact our dialectical behavioral therapy clinic at 619-350-8220 to learn more about the different treatment stages.
Benefits of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
When you turn to our DBT center in San Diego, you can learn how to have healthier and longer-lasting relationships. By learning how to be assertive without being aggressive and how to express your needs while maintaining your self-respect, you can start building the kind of relationships that can offer support as you work through a substance use disorder.
Although DBT focuses on helping you overcome mental illness and substance use disorders, it can positively impact your entire life. Mindfulness, for example, can help your health and overall well-being. Once you learn this skill with DBT, you can use it in all areas of your life.
Dialectical behavioral therapy can also help you better understand your emotions and thought patterns, allowing you to make healthier decisions.
DBT can help you abandon “all-or-nothing” thinking by showing you how to sit with uncomfortable feelings while also encouraging you to be open to positive and gradual change.
Learn more about the benefits of DBT by calling Pacific Bay Recovery at 619-350-8220.
How We Use Dialectical Behavioral Therapy at Pacific Bay Recovery
For drug and alcohol rehab with DBT, we provide individual therapy sessions where you work one-on-one with a specialist. During individual therapy sessions, you can learn collaboration. Most of the time, our therapists will ask that you maintain a journal to help keep track of your emotions and thoughts, allowing you to spot behavioral patterns.
We also apply DBT in a group setting. It lets you practice new skills with others who are going through similar challenges. In a group setting, DBT often involves role-playing exercises and discussions on handling difficult situations.
Begin Your Recovery
If you battle a substance use disorder with or without a co-occurring condition, dialectical behavioral therapy can be a crucial tool to help you start healing.
At Pacific Bay Recovery in San Diego, CA, we offer drug and alcohol rehab services, including medical detoxification, inpatient treatment, and intensive outpatient programs. With years of experience offering help to those with addiction and other behavioral issues, we can offer the support you need to achieve and maintain your sobriety.
Call Pacific Bay Recovery today at 619-350-8220 to speak with our admissions team.
