Dialectical behavior therapy in residential treatment is a specially adapted type of therapy used to treat individuals who experience intense emotions. Residential treatment centers for adolescents use this specialized talk therapy to work with struggling teens. Dialectical behavior therapy in residential treatment is an evidence based form of therapy that can effectively manage students struggling with impulsive and problematic behaviors.

What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a type of talk therapy which is based on cognitive behavioral therapy and redesigned for children, teens, or adults who experience emotions very intensely. This therapeutic program helps individuals understand how their thoughts can affect their emotions and behaviors.

‘Dialectical’ means the existence of opposites; in dialectical behavior therapy in residential treatment, students are taught two opposite strategies: acceptance and change. For students struggling with their thoughts and feelings, teaching them to accept these feelings teaches them that their emotions are valid. After a student learns acceptance, they can work on making positive changes to manage their emotions and move forward.

This type of mental health treatment for adolescents focuses on teaching struggling teens how to practice mindfulness. Mindfulness requires individuals to be fully present in the moment and focus on one thing at a time, without the worry of being judged or overwhelmed. Dialectical behavior therapy also teaches students new problem-solving skills, giving them the tools to respond positively and effectively to their harmful thoughts or stress-induced behaviors.

Who Can Benefit from Dialectical Behavior Therapy?

There has been a lot of research done on dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents and adults demonstrating its effectiveness. DBT is very effective for individuals who struggle with managing and regulating their emotions and behavior. This therapeutic program is beneficial for a wide range of mental health conditions including:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Self-harm
• Suicidal behavior
• Substance abuse
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Eating disorders

DBT has been proven to be effective for treating these mental health conditions because these conditions are typically associated with unhealthy efforts to control intense, negative thoughts and emotions. Dialectical behavior therapy in residential therapy can teach students how to cope with these mental health conditions in a healthier way. This therapeutic technique has helped struggling teens avoid these types of harmful behaviors:

• Impulsive decision-making
• Anger outbursts
• Poor coping skills
• Poor communication
• Frequent mood swings
• Conflict with family, friends, and peers
• Disruptive behaviors
• Self-harm and suicidal thoughts
• Substance abuse and addiction
• Eating disorders

What Will a Student in Dialectical Behavior Therapy in Residential Treatment Learn?

Struggling individuals in DBT will learn how to healthily cope with negative thoughts and feelings. This mental health treatment also teaches students how to move forward and reinforces positive self-care. Students will learn four core dialectical behavior therapy skills to replace negative thoughts and behaviors with more effective behaviors to better manage stress and difficult emotions. The four major skills learned in DBT are mindfulness, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and emotional regulation.

Mindfulness

This foundational DBT skill can help students cope better with negative emotions and stressors. Mindfulness is about living in the present and is an intentional observance. This practice helps students avoid worrying about the past or the future, leading to self discovery. 

Distress Tolerance

Another foundation DBT skill that helps students cope with painful or stressful situations is distress tolerance. Dialectical behavior therapy teaches struggling teens useful coping mechanisms when they’re facing emotional pain. Grounding techniques, such as exercising, can help teens work their emotions out in a healthy way. Radical acceptance is another part of distress tolerance which teaches teens to accept their situations, thoughts, and feelings that can’t change and move forward. Teens struggling with mental health issues will start to act intentionally after learning this skill.

Interpersonal Effectiveness

This dialectical behavior therapy skill helps students establish and maintain healthy relationships with themselves and others. Interpersonal effectiveness teaches struggling teens how to speak up for their needs, set boundaries, and respect themselves. Self respect is at the core of maintaining healthy relationships for individuals struggling with mental health conditions. Dialectical behavior therapy in residential treatment can lead to students learning how to communicate their feelings honestly and effectively.

Emotional Regulation

The last core skill of dialectical behavior therapy is emotional regulation. This skill teaches struggling individuals how to gain control over their emotions rather than letting emotions control their mood and behavior. Some emotion regulation skills include reality checking, acceptance of emotions, and learning opposite actions of behaviors associated with specific emotions. For example, if a person is feeling depressed, they may feel like they want to lie down in a dark room, but the opposite action would be to get out of the house and be in the sunshine. This practice can help a struggling individual control their emotions, instead of letting their emotions control them, cultivating an awareness of feelings.

DBT & Residential Treatment Centers

Developing the core skills associated with DBT can help struggling individuals cope with challenges, stressors, and painful emotions. Everyone can benefit from learning these skills to better regulate their emotions. Dialectical behavior therapy in residential treatment is highly effective for those struggling with depression, anxiety, PTSD, BPD, suicidal ideation, self harm, eating disorders, and substance abuse. Residential treatment centers are a beneficial option for people who find it hard to regulate their intense emotions and need a supportive environment. DBT is only one type of therapy used in therapeutic programs like residential treatment centers, they may also provide cognitive therapy, experiential therapy, behavioral therapy, and more. Learn how to better yourself and cope with your emotions in a positive way with dialectical behavior therapy.