
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.