Addiction treatment at pH Wellness helps you build real skills that make your sobriety after treatment sustainable. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a therapy that can help you learn to cope with challenges in a manner that is effective and healthy. However, DBT is most effective when it is part of a whole treatment protocol that considers all the challenges you face. Therefore, at pH Wellness, DBT is used in conjunction with other therapies to help you learn skills that you can take out of treatment and use in your life when you return home.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
The fundamental goal of DBT is to promote two main goals: change and acceptance. When you combine these two concepts, you learn that you can accept the challenges that happen as a normal part of life. However, you also see how you can make changes and effectively learn to live your life more happily and healthily.
In DBT, you learn many skills, including mindfulness, emotional regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance. These skills are highly practical in problem-solving and community building. They help you create real change in your life while accepting the difficulties that you have and are facing by helping you improve your motivation to change, have a structure that helps you to change, and have the skills you need to make changes.
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Mindfulness
Being mindful is when you are aware of yourself or the world around you. While awareness seems simple, it is a skill that takes time and effort to build. In DBT, you learn to be mindful of all parts of yourself. This includes thoughts, feelings, and actions that may not make sense or even be contradictory. For example, when you are struggling with addiction, you might feel like you want to change but also feel nervous or uncertain about making changes.
In DBT, you improve mindfulness by working with a counselor who guides you down the path of mindfulness. Both in a group or individual setting, you are asked to be aware of yourself and taught how to do so.
Learning Emotional Regulation in DBT
Emotions are a normal and healthy part of life. However, when you are struggling with addiction, your emotions can often get the better of you. Dysregulated emotions make it difficult to think clearly, make healthy choices for yourself, and connect with loved ones.
In DBT, you can learn emotional regulation. Through a series of exercises and with support, you learn to identify your emotions. This, as a foundation, gives you more options when you feel a strong emotion arise. Then, you learn skills that help you to make other choices when you feel a strong emotion. This may include taking steps to decrease the feelings you are having.
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Having a community is important to help you live a happy and healthy life. However, addiction and lack of interpersonal skills often go hand in hand. This makes it difficult for you to build and maintain healthy relationships in your life.
DBT aims to help you learn these skills. Through a combination of worksheets, practices, and counseling, you begin to understand how to be more effective at both listening and sharing. When you do so, you get the benefits of building authentic and healthy relationships. There are many layers of skills needed for interpersonal effectiveness. In DBT, you are guided through each layer and have the opportunity to practice these skills so that you can take them home with you when you leave treatment.
Distress Tolerance
Life is a combination of positive and negative experiences. While it is normal to dislike negative emotions and experiences, they are a part of life. Therefore, having a tolerance to feeling distress and other negative feelings is important. This is especially true when you are in recovery from addiction, as distress can often lead you towards drugs and alcohol as a way to dull it.
In DBT, you learn to be aware and make changes. However, you also learn acceptance. This includes acceptance of your current situation. As you learn to accept discomfort, you learn that you do not have to escape from it immediately. Instead, you can take steps that help prevent further discomfort in your life.
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Benefits of DBT
In addiction treatment, you take steps to stop using drugs and alcohol. However, it is also important to learn how to live your life free from drugs and alcohol long-term. DBT offers you the chance to build resilience to the challenges that you will inevitably face. However, it also helps you to make changes internally that help promote long-term recovery from addiction.
Practical Coping Skills
One of the reasons that DBT is most effective is it helps you to build practical skills. By building practical coping skills, you have a way to deal with issues when they arise. This includes real-life challenges in your community of loved ones. However, it also includes dealing with normal stressors of life both at home and in your personal life. By practicing these skills in DBT, you will feel prepared to leave treatment and stay sober.
DBT is a therapy that offers you the opportunity to explore your inner landscape, become more aware of your challenges with addiction, and learn skills that are applicable in your recovery from addiction, both short and long-term. If you are struggling with addiction and interested in learning more, call us at pH Wellness today at (888) 707-3880.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Eligible for an IOP?
Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) are suitable for individuals who require structure and therapeutic support for addiction or mental health issues, but do not need medically-managed detox or round-the-clock supervision. Candidates should be physically and mentally stable enough to continue work, school, or family life while attending treatment several hours per week. IOPs are inappropriate for anyone posing an immediate danger to themselves or others. They serve as an alternative level of care between standard outpatient therapy and inpatient rehabilitation.
What Happens During IOP?
IOPs provide 9-20 hours of clinical services per week. Each day typically involves group counseling sessions focused on substance abuse education, relapse prevention, life skills training, and peer support. Individual and family therapy may supplement groups. Programs also offer case management, psychiatric services, a 12-step introduction, and holistic therapies. The comprehensive care and accountability of IOP help clients establish coping strategies while continuing daily responsibilities.
What is the difference between PHP and IOP?
A partial hospitalization program (PHP) offers the highest level of outpatient addiction and mental health treatment with 20 or more hours of weekly services. This structured “day treatment” enables clients to return home overnight. Intensive outpatient programs (IOP) involve 9-19 hours of weekly treatment, offering more flexibility for work or family commitments while still providing intensive group and individual therapy. Both PHP and IOP provide more care than standard weekly counseling.
How long does an IOP program typically last?
The length of IOP treatment varies based on each client’s needs. Many participate for 6-12 weeks as a step down from inpatient rehab or PHP. For some, up to six months of IOP services are recommended to solidify coping skills and prevent relapse. Ongoing support groups and services after completion are key. The priority is sustaining therapeutic intensity until the client achieves stable recovery.
Does intensive outpatient treatment work for depression?
Yes, studies show IOPs can effectively treat major depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder. In one trial, 68% of depressed participants achieved remission through an IOP incorporating cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness training, medication management, and peer group support. IOPs also address addiction and mental illness together. Continuing antidepressant medication and outpatient therapy after IOP completion is ideal to prevent relapse.
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If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use disorder, contact us to speak with a caring intake specialist.
