Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Effective Therapy

At CERTS, we provide specialized therapeutic programs based on what each student needs in their healing journey. Our residential treatment centers for adolescents combine traditional talk therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and experiential therapy for our students struggling with mental health conditions. Dialectical behavior therapy in residential treatment is a type of therapy that we use to treat our students who experience very intense emotions. 

Dialectical Behavior Therapy in Residential Treatment

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a type of talk therapy specially adapted from cognitive behavioral therapy for individuals who experience emotions very intensely. At CERTS in Utah, we teach our students two main strategies during DBT: acceptance and change. Acceptance of emotions, thoughts, and situations is a necessary part of moving forward. Once a struggling teen learns acceptance, they can start to make positive changes to regulate their emotions.

Mental Health Conditions that DBT can Benefit:

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

Harmful Behaviors that Adolescents can Avoid After DBT Treatment

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

Dialectical Behavior Therapy in Residential Treatment: 4 Core Skills

Dialectical behavior therapy in residential treatment at CERTS will teach students four core skills to healthily cope with negative thoughts and feelings. The skills learned in dialectical behavior therapy will reinforce positive self-care and replace negative behaviors with more effective ways to manage stress and difficult emotions. Mindfulness, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and emotional regulation are the four core skills our students learn at our residential treatment facilities.

Mindfulness

• Mindfulness is an intentional observance and teaches students to live in the present.
• This dialectical behavior therapy skill helps students avoid worrying about past or future situations, emotions, or stressors.
• Mindfulness results in self discovery and discipline, leading to better coping skills.

Distress Tolerance

• Distress tolerance is a DBT skill that teaches students useful coping mechanisms.
• Grounding techniques can help students struggling with mental health conditions to practice healthy coping skills to work out their emotions, such as taking a cold shower.
• Radical acceptance teaches teens to accept situations, feelings, and thoughts that are unchangeable and move forward.
• Distress tolerance helps students act intentionally when they have negative feelings.

Interpersonal Effectiveness

• This dialectical behavior therapy skill helps students maintain healthy relationships with themselves and others.
• Interpersonal effectiveness teaches teens struggling with self confidence how to speak up for themselves, set boundaries, and respect themselves.
• This DBT skill also teaches students how to effectively communicate with others, leading to open and honest relationships.

Emotional Regulation

• Emotional regulation is a skill learned in dialectical behavior therapy that teaches students how to gain control over their emotions.
• Reality checking, acceptance of emotions, and practicing opposite actions are part of this DBT skill.
• Practicing this skill can help students struggling with mental health conditions regulate their emotions rather than letting their emotions control them.
• Emotional regulation cultivates an awareness of feelings and emotions for students.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy at CERTS

Every person can benefit from learning the core skills associated with DBT, especially our students at CERTS who struggle to cope with stressors, painful emotions, and challenges. Dialectical behavior therapy in residential treatment is highly effective in teaching teens suffering with mental health conditions how to accept their emotions and situations, then move forward instead of acting out in a negative way. Our residential treatment centers at CERTS are a beneficial way for struggling teens to learn how to cope with their intense emotions in a supportive environment. If you are interested in our therapeutic programs at CERTS, call us today to learn more!