Dialectical Behavior Therapy in San Diego
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a practice that utilizes self-reflection and interpersonal skill-building exercises. It is often used by therapists to help veterans regulate their emotions and restrain self-destructive behavior patterns.
Though it was originally intended to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD), its use has been adapted to treat a variety of mental health conditions. DBT techniques combine traditional cognitive-behavioral techniques for controlling emotions with added concepts of mindful awareness, distress tolerance and acceptance.
Conventional dialectical behavior therapy courses are at least six months long, but at Solara Mental Health, we offer a shortened, intensified structure designed to address immediate needs and build a strong foundation for long-term recovery.
DBT Stepping Stones: The 4 Skill Modules
Dialectical behavior therapy is made up of four skills training modules: mindfulness, distress intolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. These psychosocial skills combined work to improve self-control and focus, develop interpersonal skills, promote self-awareness, and cultivate the ability to both manage and express emotions healthily.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the basis of all exercises in DBT. Through a combination of didactic therapy and meditation, veterans practice self-awareness and learn to focus on the present. They are encouraged to watch, describe, and participate in their environment without judging or overthinking.
Veterans also practice letting thoughts emerge in and leave their minds in a similarly neutral way. This helps them relax the mind and increases emotional stability, helping them avoid acting out in a destructive way.
Distress Tolerance
DBT does not aim to help people avoid distressing emotions; rather, it aims to promote acceptance of painful situations and feelings and appropriate reactions to them. Through expert clinical care, veterans will learn concrete skills to relax during times of stress, learning to see difficult situations in less overwhelming ways and react appropriately and healthily.
Distress tolerance skills work on the patient’s ability to accept reality and provide a guideline for responding to painful circumstances of life in a healthy way.
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Interpersonal effectiveness strives to help veterans develop and maintain healthy, mutually fulfilling relationships. During this component of DBT, veterans learn what their own interpersonal needs are and how to have those needs met without sacrificing integrity, equality, or self-confidence.
This involves respecting others and listening to communicate effectively. Veterans also learn effective techniques for managing social conflict, balancing assertiveness and flexibility, and learning to say “no” to others when needed.
Emotion Regulation
As its name would suggest, the emotion regulation component of DBT focuses on coping with negative emotions or traumatic experiences. These skills help people understand their emotions, therefore decreasing the intensity of negative feelings.
These certain skills involve:
- Learning how to understand and name emotions
- Changing unwanted emotions through the use of opposite-reactions, fact-checking, and problem solving
- Reducing vulnerability by planning coping mechanisms in advance
- Managing extreme conditions by use of mindfulness to remain stable
Is DBT right for you?
Though DBT’s original intent was to treat those with BPD who have thoughts of suicide and self-harm, it can successfully be adapted to treat other mental health disorders.
DBT is considered an effective means to treat:
Get DBT at Solara Mental Health
At Solara Health, we help veterans practice the four skills of DBT during both individual therapy and group therapy sessions. Individual therapy allows for focused one-on-one attention with expert clinicians; group therapy fosters a safe, judgment-free space for veterans to come together with peers to explore their experiences and practice both emotional and social techniques.
The result is a breaking away from impulsive behaviors and damaging thoughts that lead to stronger relationships, increased emotional strength, and lasting psychological healing.
For more information about dialectical behavior therapy, or about other treatments offered at Solara Health, please contact us.
Solara’s Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Veterans
Self-reflection and interpersonal skill-building exercises are significant components of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Therapists often use it to help veterans regulate their emotions and prevent self-destructive behavior. Understanding each veteran’s specific diagnosis is crucial for the therapy, that’s why at Solara Mental Health San Diego our staff of professionals is ready to assist each patient accordingly through a personalized treatment plan.
Solara Mental Health is VA contracted as a community care provider. Once authorized, housing, transportation, and accommodations will be provided.
