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african american man outside smiling after dialectical behavior therapy session for addiction treatment According to a SAMHSA study in 2018, over 20 million Americans age 12 or older had a substance abuse disorder. That implies that more than 20 million people struggled with addiction to drugs or alcohol. Maybe your loved one is one of them. Worse, perhaps you’re one of them. However, with this dark statistic, we offer hope: it is possible to overcome addiction. Are you ready to take the first step towards the rest of your life by enrolling in addiction therapy that includes dialectical behavioral therapy?

With a variety of programs, we provide tools that you can use to break free of your addiction, such as:

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy
  • EMDR therapy
  • Trauma-informed therapy
  • Dual diagnosis treatment
  • Family therapy services
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy
  • EMDR therapy
  • Trauma-informed therapy
  • Dual diagnosis treatment
  • Family therapy services

One critical therapy we provide our patients is dialectical behavior therapy. Overcoming addiction often requires changing thoughts and behavior patterns. Our therapists use DBT as one of the methods to do this. However, many of our clients ask, what is DBT, and how can it help those with an addiction? How does it work with other addiction therapy services in Tampa, FL? Here at BoardPrep Recovery Center®, we have the answers to these questions and many more. Contact us today at 866.796.4720 to learn more about our programs or to enroll in one of our recovery programs.

For more information on dialectical behavior therapy, check out the following blogs:

How Do I Know If I Need Addiction Treatment?

DBT can help almost any person who struggles with a mental disorder. However, one of the primary uses for dialectical behavioral therapy is in addiction treatment. However, many people who struggle with addiction don’t realize how bad their disorder is. As a result, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders offers 11 criteria to determine how severe a person’s addiction is. Mentally mark how many of the following questions that you answer yes.

  • Do you use more drugs or alcohol than you intended to, or do you drink or use drugs for longer than you meant to?
  • Have you repeatedly told yourself that you’re going to stop or cut down on your substance use, but you find that you can’t?
  • Do you spend a good deal of time acquiring, doing, or recovering from using drugs or alcohol?
  • Do you have urges or cravings to use drugs or alcohol?
  • Are you unable to function at work, school, or home because you’re too busy using drugs or alcohol?
  • Do you continue to use drugs or alcohol despite it causing trouble in your relationships?
  • Have you put using drugs or alcohol before social, professional, or recreational commitments? 
  • Do you continue to use drugs or alcohol, even though you recognize the risks?
  • Even though you have physical or mental problems that get worse if you use drugs or alcohol, do you continue using them?
  • Have you developed a tolerance for the drug or alcohol, meaning that you needed more to get the same result?
  • When you don’t use the drug or alcohol, do you have withdrawal symptoms?

Results From the DSM Criteria

If you answered yes to two or three of the statements, you most likely have a mild addiction. Answering yes to four or five of the questions means that you have a moderate disorder. However, if you have answered yes to six or more of the criteria, you have a severe disorder. Even if you only have a mild addiction, you should seek treatment as soon as possible. Substance use disorders don’t get better with time; in fact, they tend to deteriorate. It is significantly easier to treat a mild disorder than it is to treat a severe disorder.

An Overview of Dialectical Behavior Therapy

During DBT, therapists work to help their patients learn coping skills and change negative behavior patterns. In general, more serious issues such as suicidal tendencies or self-harm get addressed first because they are the most urgent. Once an individual has a handle on those behaviors, they can then work on life skills, distress tolerance, and dealing with emotions.

Practitioners consider mindfulness a key component of dialectical behavior therapy. Through mindfulness, you will learn to overcome your emotions and remain more aware of your environment. As a result, you can manage stress better and learn to deal with the changes that come with learning a new lifestyle.

DBT Uses and Methods

As a form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), DBT was first used to treat borderline personality disorder. Psychologists have since found it very effective at treating other conditions such as eating disorders, cases of self-harm, depression, and other mental health conditions.

In particular, DBT has proven useful in helping those with substance abuse disorders overcome their addiction and avoid relapses. As such, many rehab centers now make it a key component of their recovery programs.

How is a Dialectical Behavior Therapy Program in Tampa, FL Administered?

One of the biggest benefits of dialectical behavior therapy involves its flexibility. For example, you may experience it during one-on-one sessions with a licensed therapist. In that setting, dialectical behavior therapy takes a more personalized approach, allowing you and your therapist to address issues that affect you as an individual.

Group sessions are another way in which counselors implement DBT. In a group session, several people may work together to learn life or coping skills that benefit everyone equally. In that way, session leaders can make maximum use of their time and efforts.

Some therapists also offer phone coaching on a case-by-case basis. With phone coaching, you receive help for the exact situation that is facing you. Many people rely on phone coaching to help them avoid temptation and prevent situations that would cause a relapse.

While at our facility, you will likely experience a combination of the above techniques. We provide individual and group therapy sessions along with a host of other drug and alcohol rehab services to help guide you on your path to recovery.

DBT and other Programs

In addition to a dialectical behavior therapy program in Tampa, FL, we also offer a number of other programs designed to help you get and stay sober. A few of those include:

  • Depression treatment program
  • EMDR therapy program
  • Trauma therapy program
  • Meth addiction treatment
  • Hospital services

We’ve found that no one program or combination of programs best suits everyone. Accordingly, you will receive a customized treatment plan based upon your needs and level of addiction. As you progress, we will continue to make adjustments to your plan to provide you with the best possible service.

Everything that’s needed for your success awaits you at BoardPrep Recovery Center®. Don’t put off treatment any longer. Contact us today!

Help from a Dialectical Behavior Therapy Program in Tampa, FL

At Boardprep Recovery Center, dialectical behavior therapy is only one tool we use to help people reach sobriety. We want to help you get to the next chapter in your life, one that is free from addiction. As a result, we offer treatment for a variety of substance dependencies, including:

  • Heroin addiction
  • Alcohol addiction
  • Opioid addiction
  • Meth addiction
  • Cocaine addiction

Recovery from addiction is possible, through a rehabilitation program like the one at BoardPrep Recovery Center®. Please take advantage of all we have to offer by calling us now. Speak with an intake specialist today who will help you make the first step on your road to recovery. Don’t you think addiction has stolen enough from your life? Take back your life today by calling BoardPrep Recovery Center® at 866.796.4720.