Skills for intense emotions
DBT for Addiction
Dialectical behavior therapy builds the skills to manage intense emotions and stress — which is exactly where many addictions begin.
About this therapy
Dialectical behavior therapy
DBT is a form of psychotherapy based on the same principles as CBT, with a focus on emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and relationship building. Psychologist Marsha Linehan developed it in the 1980s, initially for borderline personality disorder and suicidal thoughts; it has since become a mainstay for addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders.
People with intense emotional reactions often self-medicate with drugs and alcohol, which is a dangerous road to addiction. DBT helps distinguish intense emotions from valid ones, improves self-image and communication, and — since nearly half of people who abuse substances have a co-occurring mental health disorder — treats both conditions at once, which reduces the risk of relapse.
DBT at Ambrosia is tailored to the person and used in both individual and group sessions, alongside the rest of a full treatment plan.
The four skills of DBT
Mindfulness
Examining thoughts and feelings without judgment while staying present — separating thoughts from emotions and sensations, and acting deliberately.
Distress tolerance
Coping with emotions and stress while accepting reality — self-soothing, healthy distraction, and weighing the real pros and cons of a coping choice.
Interpersonal effectiveness
Listening skills, social skills, and assertiveness: asking for what you need, working through conflict, and building self-respect.
Emotional regulation
Identifying feelings and obstacles, then managing emotions instead of being managed by them.
How DBT works
The therapist starts by making sure you are emotionally stable, then encourages honesty about the past issues still affecting you today. As those emotions surface, you learn ways to cope without drugs or alcohol — and to read situations as they are, not through the addiction’s lens.
DBT typically moves through four stages, with goals set together in the first session:
- Stage one — acknowledging the chaos substance abuse has created
- Stage two — learning to regulate emotions
- Stage three — self-confidence, better relationships, and life goals
- Stage four — accepting yourself as a whole person and building a positive mindset
Who DBT helps most
Not everyone in treatment needs DBT, but for some people it is the approach that finally lands:
- People with co-occurring disorders such as borderline personality disorder, where distrust makes admitting the need for help difficult
- People held back by the stigma of addiction, who need an approach that meets defensiveness with acceptance
- People struggling with self-harm or suicidal thoughts, for whom pure logic-and-reasoning approaches are hard to use
- People who have relapsed multiple times and need something different from the last attempt
Accountability and repair
By the time most people seek treatment, they are wondering whether their thoughts are their own or the addiction talking. DBT helps sort what is real from what is not — and helps people take responsibility for their actions during active addiction, which is where repairing damaged relationships actually starts.
Ready to talk with admissions?
Admissions is available 24/7 to answer questions about mental health and substance use treatment options.