When used in conjunction with medication, talk therapy is one of the most effective forms of therapy in use for a wide variety of mental health conditions. However, talk therapy is not a one-size-fits-all approach. There are different types and techniques of talk therapy offered at mental health facilities. Dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT, is one type of talk therapy. It is a modified version of cognitive behavioral therapy, and therapists initially used it to help people with borderline personality disorder, or BPD. Mental health professionals quickly realized the potential of DBT to treat other mental health issues.
At the Atlanta Center for Mental Health, we offer a dialectical behavior therapy program to help you learn the skills you need to manage your mental health. If you or someone you care about is interested in learning how DBT can help with a mental health condition, call us today at 833.625.0458, and our admissions team will be more than happy to help you. We offer DBT and other proven, evidence-based treatment programs administered by our dedicated and professional team of mental health professionals.
What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?
Like cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, the goal of DBT is to help patients be more aware of their negative thought patterns and behaviors. By doing this, DBT aims to let people live in the moment, regulate their emotions, and increase their ability to cope with stress. However, how it attempts to do this is different from how CBT approaches the problem.
DBT was originally developed to deal with extreme negative emotions and self-destructive behavior. It primarily focuses on the concepts of acceptance and change. These two seemingly opposing ideas form the basis of the dialectical part of DBT. The therapist works with the client to help them accept the intensely painful emotions that lead them to destructive behavior. Once that is accomplished, they help them see that these behaviors need to be changed.
Some of the critical skills someone will learn in a DBT program are:
- Mindfulness
- Distress tolerance
- Emotional regulation
- Interpersonal effectiveness
How Can DBT Help You?
A dialectical behavior therapy program primarily helps people who suffer from severe mental health issues such as BPD, major depressive disorder, substance use disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. It is also proven effective in treating the extreme emotions experienced by teenagers and young adults during the transition from childhood to adulthood.
DBT aims to give people the ability to:
- Control destructive thoughts and actions – your therapist will work with you to analyze your thoughts and actions, teaching you to identify destructive patterns and replace them with healthier approaches
- Manage stress – DBT will give you the tools to manage stress in your day-to-day life, allowing you to manage stressors with positive coping mechanisms
- Improve or repair relationships – you will learn to foster healthy boundaries and positive methods of communication, letting you improve or repair relationships that may have been damaged by your struggle with a mental health condition
- Increase self-esteem – DBT encourages you to acknowledge your strengths and positive traits while addressing your weaknesses, giving you the chance to counter the negative self-image that can develop when struggling with mental health issues
Learn More About DBT at the Atlanta Center for Mental Health
If you struggle with daily life due to negative emotions and destructive behavior, you may benefit from DBT. The Atlanta Center for Mental Health in Georgia has many supportive mental health programs, including DBT. Our mental health professionals are standing by to help you reclaim your happiness. You can contact us at 833.625.0458 to have one of our admissions team members walk you through getting into a dialectical behavior therapy program.
