Dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT, is a type of treatment that helps people better understand their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It’s rooted in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques but places a stronger emphasis on acceptance and emotional balance rather than immediate change. DBT teaches mindfulness, emotional regulation, and stress management—skills that can be incredibly beneficial for someone navigating addiction.
Originally designed to treat personality disorders, DBT has proven effective for a range of mental health challenges, including addiction, depression, and disordered eating. It helps individuals accept their emotions while working toward practical life improvements.
Santé Center for Healing offers DBT and other evidence-based therapies as part of its comprehensive addiction treatment programs. With residential, outpatient, medical detox, transitional living, and aftercare services available, we provide full-spectrum support at every stage of the recovery process. Contact Santé Center for Healing today to take the first step toward a life of recovery.
What does a DBT session look like?
If you’re new to DBT, it’s helpful to know what a typical session entails. DBT is structured, skill-based, and focused on both emotional insight and behavioral change. Most DBT-centered programs include a combination of individual therapy, group sessions, and real-world practice.
Here’s what you can expect within a typical DBT session:
Individual session
Your therapist will help you identify patterns of behavior that lead to emotional distress or substance use. You’ll focus on problem-solving strategies and work on balancing acceptance (“This is how things are”) with change (“This is what I can do differently”). One key part of this process is what’s called the “diary card”—a tool you fill out to track emotions, urges, behaviors, and skill usage. Your therapist uses this to help you target problem areas and guide the session around your most urgent needs.
Group skills session
Unlike traditional group therapy—which often centers on open discussion, emotional sharing, and peer support—DBT skills groups are more structured and educational. They function more like a classroom than a therapy circle. In a DBT group session, a trained clinician leads the group through specific lessons drawn from one of four core DBT modules, including mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Additional techniques used with a DBT approach include coaching between sessions to help work through real-life scenarios, as well as behavioral chain analysis, which teaches individuals to break down a specific incident—understanding what triggered it, how they felt in response, and what consequences followed.
The benefits of dialectical behavior therapy
DBT offers life-enhancing tools that go far beyond addiction recovery. Benefits often include:
- Mindfulness skills: DBT encourages you to focus on the present, helping you stay grounded and more aware of your thoughts and feelings.
- Improved emotional regulation: Teaches you to manage feelings instead of reacting impulsively or destructively.
- Increased stress tolerance: Provides healthier responses to life’s challenges, reducing the need for harmful coping mechanisms like drugs or alcohol.
- Better relationships: Helps clients develop communication and conflict-resolution skills to improve their connections with others.
- Lower relapse risk: DBT’s skills-based approach helps reduce the likelihood of returning to substance use.
These benefits can ripple through your entire life, making it easier to handle stress, strengthen relationships, and achieve personal goals. DBT is a time-intensive therapy that requires commitment, but many people find it transformative. The combination of individual care, group support, and skills training helps build a strong foundation for positive change.
How DBT helps with addiction treatment
Addiction often stems from intense emotions and ineffective coping strategies. DBT targets these root causes by helping individuals reshape their emotional and behavioral responses. Here’s how DBT supports recovery:
- Managing triggers: DBT teaches you how to stay calm and make good choices in situations that may have previously led to substance misuse.
- Changing unhealthy behaviors: By understanding your thoughts and feelings, DBT helps you break harmful patterns and make better decisions.
- Building community: Group therapy fosters connection, accountability, and shared growth.
- Accepting yourself: DBT teaches clients to validate their current experience while still working toward improvement. This is a powerful mindset shift for recovery.
The skills learned in DBT can change lives. Whether you’ve struggled with addiction for a long time or are just beginning your journey, DBT offers a clear plan for recovery
Santé Center for Healing offers DBT in Texas
If you’re ready to create a brighter future, consider how dialectical behavior therapy could help you recover. Santé Center for Healing, located in Argyle, Texas, offers therapy programs like DBT that encourage healing not just for your addiction, but for all areas of your life. It’s an opportunity to learn skills that help you face challenges, repair relationships, and build a more satisfying life.
Reach out to Santé Center for Healing by calling 866.238.3154 or submitting our online contact form. We offer DBT as part of our addiction recovery program. The path to recovery takes courage, but with the right help and commitment, you can take control of your life.
