DBT in New Hampshire
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT )
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is a modified form of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). This type of talk therapy is specially designed for patients who feel intense emotions. The main objective of this therapy is to teach patients how their thoughts influence their feelings and emotions, create healthy coping mechanisms for stress, and enhance interpersonal relationships.
The word “Dialectical” entails the bringing together of opposite ideas. Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) aims to assist patients in improving their lifestyle, which would include their unhelpful traits as well as accepting the reality of their lives and behaviors.
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) was initially developed to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD). However, over time, this wellness has been modified to treat various mental health issues. This wellness assists patients who have trouble controlling their emotions or engage in destructive behaviors (such as eating disorders and substance use disorders). Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may occasionally be treated with this therapy.
What’s Unique About Dialectical Behavioral Therapy?
A distinctive feature of dialectical behavioral therapy is that it focuses on empathizing with patients’ experiences as a means of reassuring them and balancing the work required to change harmful behaviors. Dialectical behavioral therapy has evolved to become an evidence-based psychotherapy approach that is used to treat many conditions. Dialectical behavioral therapy is frequently used in the following contexts:
- Group therapy: Patients receive behavioral skill training in a group setting during group therapy sessions
- Individual therapy: Individual therapy with a qualified therapist allows patients to apply newly acquired behavioral skills to their unique set of life challenges.
There are some strategies and methods used in dialectical behavioral therapy. Below are a few of them.
- Core Mindfulness: The improvement of mindfulness abilities is a significant benefit of dialectical behavioral therapy. Living in the moment or focusing on the here and now is made easier by mindfulness. This assists the patient in developing a nonjudgmental awareness of both what is going on inside of them (their thoughts, feelings, sensations, and impulses) and what is going on in their environment (what they see, hear, smell, and touch).
When the patient is experiencing emotional pain, mindfulness skills come into play to help the patient slow down and concentrate on using healthy coping mechanisms. The technique can also assist the patient in maintaining their composure and preventing impulsive behavior and automatic negative thought patterns.
- Distress Tolerance: The patient’s ability to tolerate stress will assist them in accepting both themselves and their circumstances. Dialectical behavioral therapy teaches several crisis management methods, such as:
- Distraction
- Self-soothing
- Improving the moment
- Weighing the benefits and drawbacks of not tolerating distress
Distress tolerance techniques enable the patient to cope with strong emotions in the long run with a more optimistic view by empowering them to be ready for intense emotions.
3. Interpersonal Effectiveness: The ability of a patient to express their needs and say “no” in a relationship and still maintain a positive, healthy relationship depends on their interpersonal effectiveness. The patient will gain the ability to respect themselves and others, listen and communicate more effectively, and handle difficult people.
What is the purpose of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)?
People who have trouble controlling their emotions greatly benefit from dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Dialectical behavioral therapy has demonstrated efficacy in the management of a variety of mental health conditions, which include:
- Borderline personality disorder (BPD).
- Self-harm.
- Suicidal behavior.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Alcohol addiction wellness
- Drug addiction wellness
- Eating disorders, specifically binge eating disorders and bulimia.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Anxiety
It’s pivotal to state that each of these conditions is thought to be linked to problems that result from unhealthy or problematic attempts to control strong negative emotions, which is why dialectical behavioral therapy has proven effective for treating them. Dialectical behavioral therapy assists patients in discovering more beneficial coping mechanisms rather than relying on actions that are problematic for the individual.
What are the benefits of dialectical behavioral therapy?
Dialectical behavioral therapy aims to help the patient receiving wellness experience positive changes by resolving the apparent conflict between self-acceptance and change. Offering validation is a step in this process that makes people more receptive to cooperation and less likely to feel upset by the prospect of change.
In reality, the therapist validates that a patient’s actions “make sense” in light of their unique experiences without necessarily agreeing that their actions are the best course for resolving a problem. Although each therapeutic environment has its framework and objectives, group skills training, which can be found in the features of individual psychotherapy, and phone coaching all share some DBT characteristics.
- Acceptance and change: The patient will pick up techniques that assist in putting up with their circumstances in life, their feelings, and themselves. Additionally, they will learn abilities that will enable them to alter their behavior and social interactions for the better.
- Behavioural: The patient will learn to identify issues or harmful behavior patterns and swap them out for more beneficial and productive ones.
- Cognitive: The patient would eradicate unhelpful and ineffective thoughts and beliefs.
- Collaboration: The patient would develop teamwork skills and effective communication with the therapist, group therapist, or psychiatrist.
- Skill sets: The patient will pick up new abilities to improve their strength. Support. They will be prompted to acknowledge and build upon their positive traits and strengths.
How to Get Started With Dialectical Behavior Therapy
How do you determine if dialectical behavior therapy is the right wellness for you? The best way is to speak with a trained professional. They will examine your symptoms, wellness trajectory, and therapy objectives.
If you think that you or a loved one might benefit from dialectical behavior therapy, it’s crucial to consult with a mental health professional or healthcare provider at Recovery Mountain.