Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) in Substance Use Disorder Treatment

Session Description: Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based treatment that was originally developed to treat chronic suicidal ideation and borderline personality disorder (BPD). Research has since shown that DBT is effective in treating a wide range of mood disorders such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and eating disorders, as well as for changing behavioral patterns such as self-harm and substance use. DBT is a modified type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and its main goals are to teach people how to live in the moment, develop healthy ways to cope with stress, regulate their emotions, and improve their relationships with others. DBT incorporates a strong educational component designed to provide skills for managing intense emotions and negotiating social relationships. These therapeutic skills can be conceptualized as affect regulation techniques and are provided in four key areas: Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotion Regulation, and Distress Tolerance. Participants will learn about the core principles and techniques of DBT, exploring how they enrich SUD treatment by fostering mindfulness, enhancing interpersonal skills, regulating emotions, and bolstering distress tolerance.