As you fight to break free from addiction, it helps to identify the behaviors and patterns that made you vulnerable to substance misuse in the first place. At Gateway Foundation in Carbondale, IL, we offer dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) as part of our broad scope of clinical services for addiction. As you recognize and change the emotions, thoughts and behaviors behind substance dependence, you can look forward to real and lasting change.
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:
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:
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The goal of dialectical behavior therapy is to achieve core mindfulness and an open, aware and accepting state of mind. During the therapeutic process, you will learn to balance your own needs with the needs of those around you.
Emotional regulation is one of the key objectives of DBT. This concept involves experiencing a wide range of emotions while maintaining perspective and behaving in a way that aligns with your core values. During your DBT sessions, you learn skills for managing extreme emotions, emotional pain and even physical pain. DBT introduces the idea of experiencing intense feelings while remaining rational and calm.
