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Dialectical Behavior Therapy

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, almost half of those suffering from addiction have a related mental health condition. Nevertheless, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a form of psychotherapy used to treat substance use disorder as well as co-occurring mental illness. 

DBT can additionally help people cope with stress, maintain healthy relationships, and gain better emotional control. Lastly, it can set them up for an improved quality of life. Therefore, our dialectical behavior therapy in Georgia is an integral part of our client’s long-term success. 

What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?

DBT is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy. In addition, it focuses on understanding and modifying negative thought patterns when attempting to alter unhealthy behaviors. For example, an identifying characteristic of DBT is verbal communication between a client and a therapist. The ideology behind DBT is accepting yourself for who you are, so you can also try to reform yourself for the better. Additionally, DBT helps individuals come to terms with painful emotions or traumas. All in all, these improvements in coping reflect the tolerance people develop against stressful life events. 

Despite this, however, DBT serves as only part of a comprehensive treatment program. In addition to DBT, our clients also receive services such as detox, family therapy, individual therapy, group therapy, and aftercare in order to improve every facet of their lives.

individual counseling session for DBT in Georgia

How Long Does DBT Last?

Our dialectical behavior therapy in Georgia at the Retreat of Atlanta lasts six months on average; however, the exact time frame depends on the person and their individual progress. Additionally, the length of DBT therapy also depends on the severity of the client’s condition. Some goals individuals hope to achieve before leaving a DBT program include:

  • Mindful behavior
  • Emotional regulation
  • Distress tolerance
  • Improved interpersonal communication

Who Needs Dialectical Behavior Therapy?

DBT is an essential part of a comprehensive treatment plan. This type of therapy specifically resolves the contradiction between self-acceptance and improvement, resulting in substantive and sustainable changes in the client’s behaviors and attitude.

Fortunately for clients, our dialectical behavior therapy in Georgia can treat a variety of conditions. Furthermore, it is most successful in helping those struggling with the following hardships:

  • Alcoholism
  • Drug addiction
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Excessive stress
  • Bipolar disorder
  • PTSD
  • Trauma
  • Self-harm
  • Eating disorders

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Your journey to a healthier, more fulfilling life starts here. The Retreat of Atlanta’s caring professionals are committed to providing individualized treatment that respects your unique needs. Reach out now to secure your place in our supportive community and take the first step towards a brighter future.

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Why Should You Consider Dialectical Behavior Therapy in Georgia?

DBT is essential in mitigating self-destructive behaviors. Moreover, those considering DBT should remember that the benefits of this therapy type are long-lasting as well. The emotional regulation and distress tolerance learned in dialectical behavior therapy carries over into the real world. Therefore, this ends up setting individuals up to live with a healthy mindset. 

Too often than not, individuals neglect their need for treatment. This results in a worsened condition, which makes for a more difficult recovery. For the most successful outcomes, it is important to seek addiction and mental health treatment early on. That being said, there is always hope and the Retreat of Atlanta’s experienced team is ready to help you at any stage of addiction. 

For the benefit of our patients, our care program provides high-quality services. Nevertheless, our treatment plans contain the following components:

  • DetoxWe guide clients through a medically supervised detox in order to restore health to their bodies and clarity to their minds.
  • Individual TherapyThis form of counseling is personal and private. Additionally, it consists of one-on-one sessions with therapists, in which they aid individuals in identifying and addressing the root causes of their condition(s).
  • Group Therapy: Group therapy involves discussions in which like-minded individuals explore their experiences and how those experiences have influenced their lives for instance. This, in turn, helps clients relate to and support one another in recovery.

Aftercare ProgramThis is a service that assists clients after they have left the treatment center. Aftercare helps individuals to successfully rebuild their lives and abstain from relapse.

group session for dialectical behavior therapy in Georgia

The 6 Levels of Validation in DBT

In DBT, validation is an important skill to learn. To clarify and specify, there are 6 levels of validation techniques that help you learn to validate yourself and others through dialectical behavior therapy.

These include:

1. Mindful Listening

This consists of listening to yourself, your thoughts, and others. It also involves maintaining empathy while paying attention. Last but not least, important components of this level include asking questions, nodding, and maintaining eye contact to show interest when a person is sharing their thoughts. 

2. Acknowledging Accurately

In this step, participants observe statements without being judgmental. This involves letting a person speak without interruption then telling them a summary of what you have understood and asking if it is correct. 

3. Empathetic Reading of Feelings

While opening up, a person may tend to hide their significant emotions. Trying to read those emotions and feelings without making assumptions is important in this step. 

4. Validation Based on Feelings

Validating a person based on their past experience and negative association with an action can be constructive to their recovery. For example, “Since you almost drowned, you are fearful of going to the beach.” 

5. Validation Based on Reason

Saying that a person’s feelings and behaviors are reasonable, normal reactions helps them feel validated. For example, “It makes sense that you are afraid to go to a public gathering because of your social anxiety.”

6. See the Person as Equal

Do not think that the person sharing these feelings is weak but understand that they have their strengths and limitations just as you do. Secondly, do not lose hope in them and believe in them while helping them believe in themselves.

Is DBT Evidence-Based?

There is a lot of evidence supporting DBT’s effectiveness in treating mental health conditions. DBT has been used for over 30 years, with its first trial in 1991. In the end, this initial trial proved to be wildly successful. Since then, DBT has been used to treat a wide variety of conditions in research, community, and clinical settings.

According to the Psychiatric Times, there is evidence showing that DBT is effective as a complementary therapeutic modality as well as a stand-alone treatment. Additionally, dialectical behavior therapy stems from cognitive-behavioral therapy, which is backed by over 70 years of success. 

Begin Dialectical Behavior Therapy in Georgia

Do not allow yourself or someone else to suffer in isolation from addiction or mental illness. No matter what condition you are facing, let us help you back to a place of peace and restoration. We are here to help in any way we can. To learn more about our dialectical behavior therapy program, call the Retreat of Atlanta or reach out through our contact form today.

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