Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Healing begins when you are given the tools to accept your present and build a better future. This idea is the core of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). It is a proven treatment designed to help you handle strong emotions, manage relationships, and find balance when life feels overwhelming.
DBT is based on two powerful ideas: acceptance and change. You will learn that mental health challenges like borderline personality disorder do not define you, even if they feel heavy. In our full DBT program, you will start to see your own worth, understand your feelings, and find the strength to move forward.
Our full DBT program includes:
- One-on-one therapy with trained DBT therapists
- Group skills training in mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and social skills
- DBT skills groups with in-the-moment coaching
- Therapy to help you stay motivated and committed to change
- Creative exercises such as art, music, and mindfulness practices
We believe healing happens when you are given tools to understand your feelings and improve your relationships.
We also know how difficult it can be to ask for help.
That’s why every journey starts with kindness and a personal plan built for your needs. You are not alone, and you do not have to face this by yourself.
Why Choose a Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Residential Treatment Center?
While outpatient therapy offers good support, residential care provides a more planned and supportive setting. Our DBT center in California gives you 24/7 support in a safe, caring space where you can:
- Get away from daily triggers and stress
- Focus completely on your recovery and emotional health
- Work with licensed therapists or a teen psychiatrist
- Join in holistic therapies like gardening, nutrition therapy, and mindfulness
This focused setting helps you build DBT skills that last, creating the foundation for long-term treatment results.
How DBT Helps: What the Research Says
A 2024 study in Behavior Therapy shows the long-term success and growing proof for DBT. The study found that DBT has become a top-rated treatment, especially for people with borderline personality disorder, suicidal behavior, and trouble managing emotions.
According to the study, DBT helps clients:
- Build useful life skills like mindfulness, emotion control, and distress tolerance
- Improve social skills, which leads to stronger relationships
- Lessen harmful behaviors like self-harm or substance abuse
- Create a life worth living through planned, supportive therapy
Researchers also noted that more study is needed to improve access and adapt DBT for different groups. However, current information strongly supports its use for many mental health conditions.
Core DBT Skills You’ll Learn
Our program focuses on four key skill areas: mindfulness, emotion regulation, social skills, and distress tolerance.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a core skill taught in our full DBT program at pH Wellness. It helps you stay in the present moment with your thoughts and feelings, without judgment. For those with borderline personality disorder or other mental health issues, mindfulness is a powerful step toward healing.
Through therapy and group training, you will learn to pause, think, and manage emotions in a better way. These skills help you handle difficult feelings, tolerate distress, and control urges related to self-harm or suicidal thoughts.
Our live-in treatment center offers a supportive place to practice mindfulness and find your inner strength. Our kind DBT therapists will help you learn to face life with clarity and calm.
Learning Emotional Regulation in a DBT Program
Strong emotions can feel overwhelming, especially when dealing with addiction or other mental health challenges. In DBT, you’ll learn emotion regulation, a core skill that helps you know what you are feeling and respond in healthier ways.
Our comprehensive DBT program at pH Wellness offers skills training and individual therapy. These guide you with real-life tools to manage mood swings, lessen impulsive actions, and improve relationships. Learning to control your emotions is key to long-term healing for any disorder.
You do not have to be stuck in emotional chaos. We are here to help you build calm, clarity, and confidence, one skill at a time.
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Addiction or other mental health issues can make relationships feel distant. In DBT, a key skill you learn is how to be effective with others. This means expressing yourself clearly, setting boundaries, and building stronger connections.
At pH Wellness, this skill is practiced through group and individual therapy as part of our full DBT program. You will learn to listen with care, speak with confidence, and rebuild trust that has been lost.
Healthy relationships are possible again. We will help you build them step-by-step.
Distress Tolerance
Life has both joy and pain. It is natural to avoid discomfort, but learning to handle it is a key part of recovery. Distress tolerance is a core DBT skill that helps you manage strong emotions without using harmful behaviors like self-harm or substance use.
In our full DBT program, both change and acceptance are taught. This includes accepting your current situation instead of trying to escape it. With therapy and support from kind DBT therapists, you will learn that pain does not have to control you. Difficult moments can be managed without returning to old habits.
Whether you are recovering from addiction or navigating past trauma, distress tolerance gives you the strength to pause, breathe, and take a healthier next step.
The Benefits of DBT in Residential Addiction Treatment
Stopping substance use is just the start. Real healing occurs when you learn to live in a new way by managing emotions and facing difficult situations. That’s where DBT shines. As part of our full DBT program in a planned live-in addiction treatment center, this therapy offers more than quick relief—it provides tools for lasting change.
Building Real-Life DBT Skills for Recovery
Recovery means learning how to handle life’s challenges. Through DBT skills training, you will develop useful skills to cope with daily stress that can lead to relapse. This includes handling strong emotions, unhealthy relationships, and difficult triggers.
At pH Wellness, these core DBT skills are taught through individual and group therapy, so you can practice them in real time. From controlling your emotions to improving social skills, you are prepared for life after treatment. Challenges will still exist, but how you respond will be different.
Promoting Emotional Balance and Long-Term Healing
For people with borderline personality disorder or substance use disorders, strong emotions can feel like a storm. DBT helps you manage these emotions, tolerate distress, and stay grounded during a crisis. These proven methods support real, internal change.
Our DBT program combines behavior therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and commitment therapy. This helps you see emotional patterns and replace harmful behaviors with healthy coping tools.
Strengthening Relationships and Self-Awareness
A major benefit of DBT is its focus on connection. You will learn to communicate better, set boundaries, and build healthy relationships. In treatment, you can explore your feelings in a safe space. You will be guided by licensed therapists who specialize in DBT skills training groups.
Sustainable Sobriety, One Skill at a Time
When you leave treatment, life will still be difficult, but you will be different. Our goal is for you to leave with the DBT skills and self-awareness needed to stay sober long after your stay with us ends.
Who Should Get DBT?
DBT is ideal for people who have strong emotions, relationship troubles, or harmful behaviors. Our dbt residential treatment programs are for those who need focused, planned care to build coping skills, control emotions, and create stability.
DBT Is Recommended For:
- People with borderline personality disorder
- Teens and adults who struggle with self-harm or suicidal thoughts
- People with co-occurring disorders (like anxiety and substance use)
- Those with unstable emotions or mood disorders
- Clients who have not improved with standard outpatient therapy
- Teens who self-harm and need planned, safe support
- People dealing with conflict and unstable relationships
DBT is very effective for people who feel overwhelmed by their emotions and need proven tools for daily life. We treat people, not just diagnoses, with kindness and a plan based on psychology.
What to Expect from Treatment
At pH Wellness, all clients get a full evaluation before treatment begins. This helps us create a personal plan that meets both clinical and personal goals.
Your full DBT care may include:
- Weekly meetings with licensed therapists
- Taking part in DBT skills groups and planned group training
- Using commitment therapy and motivational interviewing
- Helpful therapies like nutrition, gardening, and mindfulness
- Help with family issues and improving communication
- Holistic methods, including art therapy and music
We work to meet you where you are. Healing starts when you feel seen, heard, and supported. We will be here for you every step of the way.
Real-Life Results: Long-Term Healing
We believe in treatment that works and creates real, lasting change. Clients who finish our DBT program often report:
- Fewer emotional outbursts and a better ability to manage emotions
- Stronger relationships and a healthier family life
- Less reliance on harmful behaviors
- More confidence, self-awareness, and purpose
- Better treatment results and readiness for independent living
Healing takes time, but it is possible with the right tools and kind support. Our team of therapists and specialists works together to provide proven therapies that support long-term recovery.
The skills learned here become a part of daily life. Our clients leave with useful skills that help them face challenges and move forward with strength.
Insurance and Admissions
Many insurance plans cover the cost of DBT live-in treatment. We are happy to guide you through the insurance check and help you explore your options.
If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use disorder, contact us to speak with a caring intake specialist.
