Is DBT Just for Mental Health Issues, or Does It Work for Addiction Too?

Many people who are new to recovery wonder about the next steps. They are also curious about therapy and which therapies may work best for addiction. These are both understandable and healthy questions. Therapy is not just for mental health issues; it works for addiction too. This includes dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).

Is DBT Just for Mental Health Issues, or Does It Work for Addiction Too?

The question of therapy being just for mental health issues has long been answered. Therapy can be a helpful practice for many issues. This includes addiction, which often has deep mental and emotional components.

Some people may avoid therapy because they feel that it is only for a certain population of people with “mental health issues.” The reality is that they are most likely just doing themself a disservice, because therapy can make life (and recovery) go much smoother. This includes DBT.

The key is to ensure that the therapy is “evidence-based.” According to the peer-reviewed journal Neurotherapeutics, “The roots of evidence-based medicine go back centuries. Yet evidence-based practice (EBP; i.e., evidence-based treatment) did not become a ‘hot topic’ in medicine until the 1990s, as attention began to be paid to the value of using evidence-based medicine to support decision-making in practice, educational, and policy contexts. This laid the groundwork for the adoption of EBP in medicine, as well as other healthcare professions.” This includes healthcare for addiction recovery.

Therapy and Addiction

The reality is that therapy (specifically psychotherapy) is not just suggested for addiction treatment; it is actually the norm. According to the peer-reviewed thesis Addiction Psychotherapeutic Care, by Doctors Yue and Pena, “Addiction psychotherapy consists of evidence-based psychosocial treatments to treat individuals with substance use disorders. Optimal treatment of addiction requires the incorporation of addiction psychotherapy. There are many different forms of psychotherapy for addiction, which can be delivered through in-person or virtual modalities.”

Now, there are many types of psychotherapy for addiction. Perhaps the most commonly used is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT can be particularly effective because it focuses on the negative emotions that come with addiction. For example, it treats the reason one takes a drink, rather than the drinking itself. CBT also helps to change the negative behaviors that often accompany alcohol and substance use. DBT is an “offshoot” of CBT.

What Exactly Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?

DBT is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy that focuses more on acceptance and mindfulness. It helps you to pause in the moment and observe negative emotions, rather than become consumed by them.

Now, it may take time, but mindfulness is key in DBT. According to the peer-reviewed journal Psychiatry (Edgmont), “In DBT, several interventions and skills are geared toward conveying acceptance of the patient and helping the patient accept him or herself, others, and the world. One such intervention is mindfulness… Some of the mindfulness skills involve attending to and nonjudgmentally observing the current experience, describing the facts of the current experience or situation, and fully participating in the activity/experience of the present, while attending to one thing at a time (‘one-mindfully’) and focusing on effective, skillful behavior.”

The Benefits of DBT

DBT also offers many benefits that can be felt by both individuals in and out of recovery. According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), “This treatment [DBT] can also help patients build and maintain healthy relationships and may be particularly well-suited for people who experience a lot of conflict in relationships with frequent ups and downs. DBT uses a combination of acceptance and change strategies to help you learn new problem-solving and coping skills to improve your overall quality of life.”

DBT also offers other benefits:

• Improved sleep patterns
• Reduced anxiety and depression
• Help with mindfulness and “being present”
• Reduced cravings for alcohol and substances
• Offers a path toward healthy spirituality
• Improves mood
• Can even help with blood pressure and heart rate

DBT and Other Treatment Modalities

DBT also works well with other modalities. This is because it is a low-risk therapy that does not require medication or specific equipment.

DBT can pair particularly well with forms of wellness therapy like yoga and mindfulness meditation. Both of these practices have been used for thousands of years and have shown to help with the same acceptance and mindfulness that DBT strives to help you attain.

A Focus on Long-Term Success at Lantana Recovery

Here at Lantana Recovery, we believe in long-term success over short-term “fixes.” This is why all of our recovery plans are individualized and comprehensive, with a focus on the future. These plans also include therapies like CBT and DBT for optimal recovery and wellness.

If you are sick and tired of feeling sick and tired, then the time to recover is now. You can do this! We are here to support you as you do.

Many people are under the impression that dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is just for issues of mental health. The reality is that it can help with addiction recovery as well. This is because it focuses on mindfulness and acceptance, which are both critical components of addiction recovery. If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or both, we can help get you on the right road to recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about DBT and other therapy options for addiction recovery, please reach out to Lantana Recovery today at (866) 997-2870.