One of the most effective therapy options for people facing addiction and other mental health concerns is dialectical behavior therapy in New Jersey. This therapeutic technique can help you identify and understand the underlying cause of the challenges you face. At BlueCrest Recovery, we offer addiction therapy programs that rely on cognitive-behavioral and dialectical behavior therapies.
Call BlueCrest Recovery at 888.292.9652 for more information about our dialectical behavior therapy program.
What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?
A dialectical behavior therapy program is a type of talk therapy that works well for people who tend to experience emotions strongly. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) uses the strategies of cognitive-behavioral therapy and tweaks them to treat a variety of conditions, including:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Suicidal behavior
- Personality disorders
- Substance use disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
DBT programs in NJ can help you understand and accept the difficult feelings you may experience while also teaching you ways of coping with those feelings in healthier ways. By learning how to cope, you can begin to make positive changes in your life.
The word “dialectical” refers to trying to accept two things that seem to oppose one another. During a DBT program, you will learn to accept your current circumstances and behaviors while still learning how to make changes to improve.
The difference between cognitive-behavioral therapy and a dialectical behavior therapy program is that extra step: accepting yourself as you are.
It can be an excellent choice if you have committed yourself to make changes, if you can work hard, and if you can focus on your present and future more than your past.
Who Needs DBT Therapy?
- Individuals With Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). DBT therapy was initially developed to treat BPD and is considered the gold standard treatment for this disorder. People with BPD often struggle with intense and unstable emotions, self-destructive behaviors, and difficulties in interpersonal relationships.
- Individuals With Other Mental Health Disorders. This has been found to be effective in treating various mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, eating disorders, and bipolar disorder.
- Individuals With Self-Destructive Behaviors. This is particularly beneficial for those engaging in self-harming behaviors, suicidal ideation, or attempting suicide. It provides individuals with skills to manage overwhelming emotions and develop alternative coping mechanisms.
- Individuals With Difficulties in Emotion Regulation. This helps individuals who struggle with emotional dysregulation, experiencing heightened and intense emotions that are difficult to manage. It teaches skills for identifying and regulating emotions effectively.
- Individuals With Impulsive Behaviors. This addresses impulsive behaviors such as substance abuse, binge eating, reckless driving, overspending, and impulsive aggression. It helps people develop skills to pause, evaluate consequences, and make healthier choices.
- Individuals With a History of Trauma. DBT therapy, particularly when conducted as individual therapy, can be helpful for individuals who have experienced trauma. It provides tools for coping with distressing memories, managing triggers, and building resilience.
Techniques of Our Dialectical Behavior Therapy Program in NJ
At our dialectical behavior therapy program in NJ, we want you to first come to terms with who you are and what challenges you face.
Your therapist can help you observe your thoughts, moods, and behaviors in a non-judgmental manner and encourage you to describe these thoughts in simple, easy-to-understand language.
Your therapist will also help you focus on goal-oriented behavior. Another technique that is crucial in DBT is learning about interpersonal effectiveness.
You can learn how to:
- Say no
- Let go of animosity
- Communicate clearly
- Ask for what you need
DBT in New Jersey also helps you learn how to manage and tolerate stress. By learning distress tolerance, you will be improving your skills of accepting change. DBT can show you how to make stressful situations better, how to self-soothe, and how to distract yourself.
One of the crucial things that dialectical behavior therapy offers is the chance to learn how to regulate your emotions. Unregulated emotions can lead to emotional challenges and relying on substances like alcohol and drugs for help.
This part of dialectical behavior therapy can help you feel less vulnerable and give you more confidence in your ability to manage how you feel.
How Does DBT Support Addiction Recovery
- Addressing Emotional Dysregulation. Emotional dysregulation is a common factor underlying addiction. DBT focuses on helping individuals identify and regulate their emotions effectively. By acquiring healthy coping mechanisms, individuals can reduce their reliance on substances to cope with overwhelming emotions.
- Building a Life Worth Living. DBT encourages individuals to develop a sense of purpose and meaning in their lives beyond addiction. Through the acquisition of new skills, individuals gradually build a life that is fulfilling, rewarding, and aligned with their values, reducing the desire to turn to substances.
- Managing Cravings. DBT equips individuals with strategies to manage cravings and urges, which can be triggers for relapse. Techniques such as “urge surfing,” where individuals acknowledge and observe their cravings without acting on them, can help reduce the power of cravings in addiction recovery.
- Enhancing Interpersonal Effectiveness. DBT can help addicts improve their interpersonal skills, enabling them to build healthier relationships and receive the social support necessary for recovery. They acquire abilities like assertive communication, negotiating skills, and conflict resolution techniques, ultimately helping them foster healthier relationships.
- Relapse Prevention. DBT for addiction provides individuals with the tools and strategies for relapse prevention. It focuses on identifying warning signs and high-risk situations and developing proactive strategies to navigate these challenges. Learning to cope with setbacks without resorting to substances is an essential aspect of DBT.
Treatment Programs Available
At our center, we offer partial care, intensive outpatient, outpatient, and alumni programs to keep you on track. We provide science-based treatments that use cognitive-behavioral and dialectical behavior therapies to guide you through your recovery.
With access to individual, group, and family therapies, you can learn the techniques you need and put them to use.
Whether you choose a highly structured program like partial care or a more flexible one like outpatient services, you can still get the medical and psychological support you depend on.
Rely on BlueCrest Recovery to Get on the Road to Recovery
BlueCrest Recovery offers dialectical behavior programs as well as many other treatment options to help you with mental health concerns like addiction.
Speak with an expert today by calling BlueCrest Recovery at 888.292.9652 or using our convenient online form to get started.
