Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is one of the leading approaches for treating addiction and other mental health disorders. Our facility in beautiful Denver, Colorado, has therapists who are ready to help you begin your new life free of substance abuse.
People battling addiction have usually tried several times to quit on their own. Perhaps they went for a few days, weeks, or months without the drug but didn’t change any other personal habits. When troubling situations eventually arise, they don’t have the skills to deal with the issue. The result? Falling back into old using habits.
Does this sound familiar? Others have been in the same position as you. They discovered how dialectical behavior therapy exercises, along with a comprehensive recover program, provided them with the necessary skills to battle their addiction and make meaningful life changes.
Trained therapists at Denver Recovery Center will work with you to set goals and implement changes in your life that can make a difference in the way you think and feel, setting you up for success in sobriety. To learn more, select any chapter below that most interests you or scroll down for all the information you need:
- What is dialectical behavioral therapy?
- How does it help manage stress?
- How does this therapy boost confidence and inner-strength?
- How is it used to help with drug addiction?
- Where is there a treatment center in Denver, Colorado?
- Contact us and set up your therapy treatment today.
- Call our 24/7 hotline now for more information.
Table of Contents
What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?
Like any therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy relies on a strong, therapeutic relationship between the client and therapist. Through this relationship, the therapist will help you investigate underlying causes for your behaviors and attitudes. Working together, you and your therapist will strive to override negative beliefs, habits, and behavior patterns.
DBT is a modified version of cognitive behavioral therapy that began as a way to help people who felt suicidal. Because they were so effective, the practices were also soon used to help those struggling with personality disorders, depression, anxiety, and addiction.
Many therapies have a strong focus on change. Though this is helpful, it doesn’t always address what the person is experiencing in the present moment. Some people feel their therapist underestimates their suffering. This can lead to becoming discouraged with treatment.
Other types of therapy focus on change, but DBT therapy techniques add a very important factor which is self-acceptance. “Dialectical” means working through opposing forces. The opposing forces of acceptance and change become an integrated experience. Therapists become allies instead of teachers and people feel that their therapists understand them better. This improved relationship leads to more engaging therapy and fewer people eventually withdraw from treatment.
Therapy sessions involve both intensive individual sessions as well as group skills training. During these appointments, you will learn new ways to work through your struggles and how to generalize these skills in real-life situations which leads to having better control of your social and physical environments.
Counseling focuses on four core dialectical behavior therapy skills addressing acceptance and change.
Focusing on Acceptance
- Mindfulness Skills: Mindfulness involves directing your attention on the present moment. Now, more than ever, our minds are bombarded with distractions. This makes it difficult to focus and to identify when habitual or impulsive thoughts are controlling our behaviors. Mindfulness training allows you to focus on the moment and develop a new awareness on how thoughts impact your behavior.
- Distress Tolerance: When you are struggling with difficult emotions, it’s easy to fall into self-destructive patterns. Distress tolerance skills help you mindfully accept your intense feelings as they occur. Instead of resisting negative emotions, you learn to accept them as a normal, temporary part of life.
Focusing on Change
- Emotional Regulation: Positively working through difficult emotions and experiences is a crucial skill for recovery. Addictive behaviors are often triggered by extreme emotions such as anger, depression, frustration, and anxiety. Learning to regulate these emotions prevents them from controlling you.
- Interpersonal Effectiveness: Communicating thoughtfully instead of letting your emotions impulsively guide your interactions builds stronger, healthier relationships. Interpersonal effectiveness includes training and practice in listening, communicating, and relating to other people.
To illustrate how it works, imagine your anger causes you to act out or use drugs. During therapy, you will learn about and become more aware of what types of situations trigger your anger. Sessions could include learning mindfulness meditation techniques or journaling about your daily emotions. Then, when you feel on the verge of an angry outburst, you can mindfully accept the emotions and practice self-soothing or distraction techniques to calm down.
As you progress through therapy, you’ll get better at identifying and processing your anger. In addition, working on improving your social skills and interactions may prevent angry outbursts from happening. By learning to communicate assertively instead of aggressively, you will get your point across without emotional outbursts.
As you can see, dialectical behavior therapy gives you a variety of tools to face your challenges. As you progress through treatment, you will feel more and more empowered to deal with the difficult situations in your life. Below are some more examples of how this therapy works in action.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for Managing Stress
Stress is one of the main triggers for substance abuse. Unfortunately, in these modern times, people are more stressed than ever. Pressures to fulfill work, family, and personal obligations have us struggling to find enough time for everything. Additionally, distractions such as technology and social media make it hard to focus on the moment.
What happens when you’re stressed out? Are your emotions charged and you just don’t know how to feel “normal” again? Do you find yourself abusing drugs and alcohol more and more to deal with stress?
You are not alone – many have fallen into this trap. But how can dialectical behavioral therapy help? Let’s say you have a heated argument with your spouse. Your “fight or flight” response activates a stream of adrenaline through your body making it difficult to think clearly. As your heart rate and energy level increase, you feel out of control. Maybe you become verbally or physically abusive.
During these difficult moments, you know you need something to help you feel better. You may compulsively storm out of your house and binge on your drug of choice to escape these emotions. The pleasure provides temporary relief. You know, deep inside, it’s only making things worse.
DBT can help break the vicious cycle of distressing emotions and drug abuse. The intensive training allows you to develop better coping skills during stressful situations. More importantly, it teaches you to be mindful when stress is triggering your negative or compulsive behaviors. Focusing on the moment allows you to step back from stressors and deal with the situation constructively.
Denver Recovery Center uses dialectical behavior therapy techniques to help you deal with stress productively. Our therapists help you identify and manage the stressful triggers leading to addictive behaviors. We create an individualized treatment plan based on your personal strengths. You’ll enjoy holistic treatment and learn proven ways to manage stress effectively.
Ways Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Boosts Confidence and Overall Well-Being
DBT is a highly individualized treatment method that utilizes your personal strengths to reach short and long-term goals. Instead of focusing on what’s “wrong” with you, you and your therapist collaborate to determine how the tools you already possess can assist you through treatment.
As you begin to reach your personal goals, you will start feeling more confident that you can react positively to negative situations. This newfound confidence acts as a motivator to continue your personal development.
Your therapist will work with you every step of the way, helping you develop the skills you need to feel better and to make better choices. Once you learn to control your emotions, you may not feel so irritated or drained in situations that would have once upset you. You may be more willing to step out of your comfort zone and do the things you never thought you could do.
When setbacks inevitably occur, they are not viewed as a defect in your character or an issue with treatment, but instead as a new challenge to overcome. Because you’re building new skills, you will be more willing to accept challenges instead of giving up.
How is DBT Used for Treating Drug Addiction?
The success of dialectical behavior therapy for treating suicidal people inspired adaptations for other mental health issues including addiction. The core concepts are similar to other addiction approaches. Anyone familiar with a 12-step program can attest to the importance of acceptance and change. In fact, these terms are found in the Serenity Prayer commonly recited at 12-step meetings:
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference…”
So how can this therapy help those battling addiction? It offers comprehensive methods not only focusing on abstinence, but on building a life worth living.
Our experienced staff work with you to create an individualized plan of action. When using DBT for substance abuse you and your therapist will work on:
- Eliminating the abuse of substances from your personal habits.
- Finding ways to reduce discomfort from symptoms of withdrawal.
- Identifying triggers and emotions leading to drug use.
- Discovering ways to avoid these triggers such as staying away from the people, places, and situations that encourage you to use.
- Setting short-term goals for sobriety leading to longer periods of abstinence.
- Creating strategies to reduce the negative impacts and length of relapse if it occurs.
- Developing a new support network within your community where an emphasis is placed on healthy behaviors and positive relationships.
Identifying and treating any additional mental health issues through our dual diagnosis program.
Where is There DBT Therapy Near Me in Denver, Colorado?
If you are seeking drug treatment in the Denver, Colorado area, Denver Recovery Center provides holistic, evidence-based treatment focused on your recovery. We integrate dialectical behavior therapy into many of our treatment programs as part of one’s individualized care.
Our residential program allows you to get away from the stressors and triggers that may have contributed to your drug use. You have the opportunity to once again take control of your life with the help of individual and DBT group therapy, family counseling, outdoor therapy, and more.
Our campus provides a comfortable, supportive environment with many amenities. You’ll enjoy the peaceful, scenic surroundings of the Denver area in close proximity to mountains, lakes, and rivers. During your stay, you will have the chance to enjoy the area while hiking, biking, or simply surrounding yourself with nature.
In addition to our residential program, we offer a full continuum of care to provide support during every step of your treatment. If you just completed or don’t require residential treatment, our partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient programs offer a wide range of therapy services while you’re still living at home. Each program stresses the importance of holistic treatment, including dialectical behavior therapy, to build sustainable life skills.
If you aren’t from the Denver area but feel a change of scenery may be the inspiration you need for positive change, we invite you to join us no matter where in the country you are located.
Take the First Step in Your Treatment by Contacting Us Today.
You may be embarrassed or afraid when struggling with drug or alcohol addiction. Understand that many others have been in the same position. After all, over 22 million people have problems related to drugs or alcohol. Addiction is a disease that gets worse with time. Without help, it takes away your career, friends, family, and health.
Luckily, you can heal from your addiction. It all begins with a simple call. Speaking with one of Denver Recovery Center’s knowledgeable admissions counselors will put you on a path towards true change.
Don’t waste another day of your life struggling with addiction. Call our 24/7 hotline at (844) 602-3175 to reach a dedicated team ready to help you begin your new life.
