Benefits of Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Addiction in Carbondale, IL

What is Dialectical Behavioral Therapy?

Dialectical behavioral therapy is an evidence-based clinical technique that combines various strategies, such as acceptance, mindfulness and emotional regulation. We use DBT to address and treat addictive behaviors, but it’s also applied to numerous psychological disorders.

During your sessions, you’ll form an alliance with your therapist and work to achieve the seven main components of dialectical behavioral therapy:

1. Identify and label emotions.
2. Recognize obstacles to change.
3. Reduce vulnerability to difficult emotions.
4. Increase positive emotional outlook.
5. Develop mindfulness to your current emotional state.
6. Enforce taking the opposite action.
7. Learn and employ distress tolerance techniques.

How Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Helps with Addiction

When you struggle with addiction, change must come from within. When someone tries to force you to quit, you may feel reactive, emotionally unavailable, defensive or even aggressive — all hindrances to recovery. Dialectical behavior therapy is a solution to this.

DBT focuses on accepting seemingly opposite ideas. An example could be taking responsibility for wrong actions while holding onto self-dignity. When you can affirm ideas that seem to oppose your own and realize they can be true simultaneously, you may no longer feel the need to aggressively defend yourself.

There are many benefits to dialectical behavior therapy, as it:

• Helps you embrace positive change in your life
• Prepares you to set goals
• Reduces negative behaviors
• Teaches coping skills for intense emotions and conflict resolution skills
• Helps you remain mindful and open about what’s happening internally and externally
• Assists you in confronting challenges to your long-term recovery
• Encourages you to form and nurture healthy relationships
• Keeps your focus on your recovery journey