Therapy is an important part of every addiction rehab program. In fact, rehab centers usually offer various therapeutic methods to help people overcome addiction. One example is a dialectical behavior therapy program. This type of therapy falls under the umbrella of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?
A Dialectical behavior therapy program (DBT) is a type of CBT that focuses on the psychosocial aspects of treatment. The idea behind it is that certain people react more intensely to specific situations. As a result, these emotional responses trigger them to engage in questionable behavior. Eventually, they return to their baseline emotional level, but it doesn’t take much to trigger an intense emotional state.
To cope with this, people often self-medicate with drugs. Certain substances numb or mask their emotional state. Unfortunately, drugs are only a quick fix for a much deeper problem. DBT gets to the root cause of the problem so people no longer feel they need drugs.
During DBT, people learn coping skills they can use in their everyday lives. Even with these coping skills, they need the help of rehab to overcome drug addiction.
Traits of a Good Dialectical Behavior Therapy Program
There are certain traits that make DBT unique. First, it’s a support-oriented form of therapy. DBT helps people identify their strengths and build upon them. This element gives them support in their daily lives and helps them become more confident.
DBT also takes a cognitive approach, which is why it’s a type of CBT. For example, it helps people identify negative thoughts and beliefs that simply make their lives harder. Examples of these types of thoughts include, “I’m a bad person,” or “Everyone hates me.” Therapists work with people to replace these negative thoughts with positive ones.
Additionally, DBT takes a collaborative approach to treatment. Clients work out their problems during talk therapy sessions. In some cases, they do assignments at home as well. For example, therapists may ask them to role-play and interact with others. Working with others is crucial to developing the necessary skills for life after rehab.
Individual and Group Therapy
The two main components of DBT are extremely important to this therapeutic method’s success. The first is one-on-one therapy, which involves only the client and a therapist. These closed sessions make it easier for people to open up about what they’re going through.
The second component is group therapy. Unlike the individual sessions, these meetings involve peers going through similar problems. Overall, hearing from others makes it easier for people to see they aren’t alone.
People usually participate in therapy multiple times a week. Each session can last for multiple hours. Typically, the group sessions are longest because everyone gets the opportunity to share.
Let Us Help You at Steps to Recovery
No matter what form of addiction therapy you require, we can help you at Steps to Recovery. Our goal is to provide a custom treatment plan that accurately addresses your needs. The comprehensive programs we offer include:
At Steps to Recovery, we use a 12-Step program approach to treatment. We also rely on effective counseling and therapeutic activities. For example, we use individual, group, and family therapy to get to the root cause of each individual’s addiction. In addition, we strive to teach you life skills that help you graduate from rehab.
Don’t let your life slip away because of addiction. Undergo therapy you can count on at Steps to Recovery. Reach out for help today at 267.719.8528.
