Fort Lauderdale-Based Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for Addiction

Master Your Emotions, Transform Your Life

When Your Emotions Feel Too Big to Handle

Emotions can be overwhelming. You react impulsively, say things you regret, use substances to numb overwhelming feelings, and sabotage relationships when things get intense. You’re not “crazy”—you’re experiencing emotional dysregulation, and you’ve never learned healthy ways to manage it.

You aren’t alone, either. At Agape Treatment Center in Fort Lauderdale, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) teaches you the skills you’ve been missing: how to tolerate distress without using substances, regulate intense emotions, communicate effectively, and stay present even when life feels unbearable.

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What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy was developed by psychologist Marsha Linehan to help people living with borderline personality disorder (BPD).[1] It combines the teachings of Zen philosophy and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), both of which are effective in their own right, and depends on a combination of finding a balance between “dialectical” opposites: accepting yourself as you are right now while working to improve and accepting negative emotions without being overwhelmed by them. Instead, you’ll work through the impulse to fix them with some activity or substance. This intersection of acceptance and positive change forms the foundation of DBT.[2]

A standard DBT program consists of weekly individual treatment, group skills training, crisis phone meetings with your therapist, and consultation. Because of the documented success DBT has with those whose emotions drive them to addiction, at Agape Treatment Center, we include DBT as a part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

How DBT Works for Addiction

DBT complements addiction treatment because it targets the underlying reasons people have turned to substances. For example, someone who is unable to regulate their emotions may resort to drinking or using drugs as a coping mechanism.

The Four Core DBT Skills

Mindfulness: This is being able to observe without judgment. Learning to be mindful allows people to observe their thoughts and feelings without being controlled by them. Mindfulness allows clients to wait to act on their cravings or impulses (including using substances) until they are able to make a decision about how they want to react rather than just giving in to the impulse.
Distress Tolerance: Distress tolerance is about being able to survive and cope with crisis situations without becoming materially or emotionally hurt. Some of the tools that change the way you think about something and can help you get through difficult situations include self-soothing techniques, distraction techniques, and weighing the pros and cons of destructive actions vs. constructive actions. The key principle to remember is that your feelings are not commands. They are information and can tell you that you are angry but do not have to yell, sad but do not have to use or panic, or anxious but do not need to pace or scream.
Emotion Regulation: This helps you identify, understand, and manage intense emotions. You learn to recognize what you’re feeling and why, reduce vulnerability through self-care, and increase positive experiences. These interventions teach you that feelings are information, not commands.
Interpersonal Effectiveness: Teaching you how to communicate your feelings (or other needs) to your loved ones while still remaining true to yourself. It provides you with the tools to communicate your feelings with assertiveness while maintaining dignity and respect for others. Setting boundaries within your relationships with your loved ones will help them be supportive of your recovery.

DBT vs CBT: Key Differences

While both therapies are evidence-based and effective, the premise behind the two is very different.
While CBT focuses on identifying and restructuring distorted thoughts, DBT integrates cognitive strategies while emphasizing acceptance and validation, developing a life worth living, practicing mindfulness, and developing a healthy self-concept. DBT is particularly helpful for those experiencing intense emotions, engaging in self-harm behaviors, having difficulty with personal relationships, and feeling invalidated by more traditional therapeutic approaches.

Healing together

Efficacy of DBT

DBT consistently shows positive outcomes for individuals with substance abuse and co-occurring mental health issues.

Reduces substance use

DBT has been found in numerous studies to lead to a decrease in substance use for those whose use is caused by emotional dysregulation or borderline personality disorder.[3]

Decreases self-destructive behavior

DBT likewise reduces self-harming behaviors, and suicide attempts, as well as other impulsive behaviors often associated with addiction to substances.[4]

Improves emotion regulation

Research indicates that DBT assists individuals with emotional regulation. Better emotional regulation means decreased reliance on using substances as a way of coping.[5]

Enhances treatment retention

Individuals participating in DBT programs are more likely to complete treatment than are participants using other methods, likely due to the fact that learning the skills taught in DBT is immediately applicable and value-added.[6]

Effective for co-occurring disorders

DBT can successfully treat many of the most common co-occurring disorders that exist with substance abuse, including borderline personality disorder (BPD), eating disorders (ED), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and severe depressive disorders.[7]

Long-lasting results

The positive impact of using DBT continues to provide people long after the conclusion of therapy because the skills learned during therapy become part of an individual’s everyday life and tools used in crisis situations.[8]

The evidence overwhelmingly shows that DBT provides valuable and powerful tools for persons with emotional dysregulation that feeds addiction and provides individuals with the ability to build a life of wellness and stability.

What to Expect from DBT Therapy

You may be wondering how DBT differs from other types of therapy if you have never experienced it before. The primary difference is that DBT therapy is generally much more structured and skills-based – you not only talk about your problems, you learn how to apply and practice new coping strategies to overcome them. A typical DBT program will provide both individual therapy and a skills training group.

A typical art therapy session includes:

01

Individual DBT Therapy Sessions

Individual DBT therapy programs focus on your unique barriers, challenges, and goals. The clinician will assist you in applying DBT skills to the various real-world situations you encounter, address specific barriers to the application of DBT skills, and support you in overcoming any challenges to your successful integration of DBT skills.
The therapist will help you review your past week, identify what has worked for you in maintaining your recovery, provide you with problem-solving techniques to build and develop your recovery, and together validate your experiences in order to provide motivation and commitment to the process of recovery.

02

DBT Skills Training Groups

The skills training group is your opportunity to learn the four core DBT skills modules. Skills training groups generally meet weekly for at least 1.5 – 2 hours and are facilitated by a person trained in the use of DBT.
DBT skills training groups will include practice of mindfulness, a review of your homework, a presentation of new skills by the facilitator, and a group discussion about the newly learned skills and how to apply those skills.

Agape Wide Range of Treatment

DBT in Fort Lauderdale at Agape Treatment Center

At Agape Treatment Center, we provide our clients with an all-encompassing DBT program staffed with board-certified clinicians and licensed mental health counselors (LMHC) who are specially trained in dialectical behavior therapy. Our clinicians have a wealth of experience providing treatment for substance abuse disorders and borderline personality disorder (BPD), as well as co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders.

Agape Treatment Center is located in Wilton Manor, just outside of Fort Lauderdale, making it accessible throughout South Florida. We offer both in-person and remote access to all services to provide evidence-based treatment options, regardless of your location.

Our Approach to DBT

Our DBT program recognizes that our clients are unique in how they display emotional dysregulation, and we adapt DBT principles specifically to your substance use patterns, mental health conditions, and personal goals.

Our approach includes:

01

Complete Elements of DBT

Clients will have access to the complete DBT program, not only part of it, by providing you with individual therapy, skills training, coaching, and other forms of therapy.

02

Integration with Addiction Treatment

DBT is integrated with your other therapies, creating a complete treatment plan that addresses every aspect of your recovery.

03

Specialized Clinicians

Our clinicians have specific training and experience using DBT to treat substance use as well as individuals with co-occurring conditions.

04

Practice of Skills

05

Validation and Change

Our goal is to validate your experiences and feelings, while also challenging the behaviors that keep you from moving forward.

06

Family Involvement

When appropriate, DBT includes your family in psychoeducation regarding DBT skills and how they can support your recovery and help create a supportive environment for you.

Building Worthen Life

Building a Life Worth Living

At Agape, we believe DBT is not just managing your emotions or ending your substance abuse. It’s about establishing and creating a reason for living, one of the primary goals of DBT. Once you have established the ability to tolerate distress, regulate your emotions, practice mindfulness, and apply interpersonal effectiveness, you will not just survive the bad moments, you’ill have the ability to create and establish a quality of life that is of real value, build and nurture meaningful relationships, and feel a sense of purpose.
Recovery is about discovering you have the strength to sit with discomfort, the skills to manage intensity, and the wisdom to choose your response.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About Dialectical Behavior Therapy Interventions

What does DBT stand for, and how is it different from CBT?

DBT stands for Dialectical Behavior Therapy and focuses on balancing acceptance of emotions with teaching skills to assist in managing your emotions. It differs from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) because CBT primarily works on changing distorted thoughts. Mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness skills are also taught in CBT, though they are not emphasized, making DBT helpful for those who struggle with relationship difficulties, self-destructive behaviors, or severe emotional dysregulation.

Do I need to have borderline personality disorder to benefit from DBT?

No, you don’t need to have borderline personality disorder (BPD) in order to gain the benefits of DBT therapy, although DBT treatments were first developed to treat that condition.

DBT has been demonstrated to help reduce the symptoms of many different diagnoses, including substance abuse, eating disorders, PTSD, major depressive disorder, ADHD, and any person who suffers from emotional regulation challenges.[9] Regardless of your diagnosis, if you struggle with impulsiveness, use substances for self-medication, or have difficulty maintaining relationships, the skills taught through DBT have the potential to be life-changing for you.

How long does DBT therapy take?

The traditional DBT program typically lasts approximately one year, and individuals are expected to attend both weekly individual therapy and weekly group therapy throughout the treatment. However, the frequency and duration of DBT therapy can be adjusted based upon a person’s individual needs and the intensity of treatment. People involved in addiction treatment may receive intense DBT therapy while participating in residential or partial hospitalization treatment and may continue with outpatient treatment as they move through their recovery journey.

Sources

[1] [2] Chapman, A. L. (2006). Dialectical behavior therapy: Current indications and unique elements. Psychiatry (Edgmont), 3(9), 62–68. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2963469/

[3] [6] Dimeff, L. A., & Linehan, M. M. (2008). Dialectical behavior therapy for substance abusers. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 4(2), 39–47. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2797106/

[4] Panos, P. T., Jackson, J. W., Hasan, O., & Panos, A. (2014). Meta-analysis and systematic review assessing the efficacy of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Research on Social Work Practice, 24(2), 213–223. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6405261/

[5] Flynn, D., Joyce, M., Weihrauch, C., & Corcoran, P. (2019). Does an adapted dialectical behaviour therapy skills training programme result in positive outcomes for participants with a dual diagnosis? A mixed methods study. BMC Psychiatry, 19(1), 253. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6694661/

[7] [9] Ritschel, L. A., Lim, N. E., & Stewart, L. M. (2015). Transdiagnostic applications of DBT for adolescents and adults. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 69(2), 111–128. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.2015.69.2.111

[8] Linehan, M. M., Comtois, K. A., Murray, A. M., Brown, M. Z., Gallop, R. J., Heard, H. L., Korslund, K. E., Tutek, D. A., Reynolds, S. K., & Lindenboim, N. (2006). Two-year randomized controlled trial and follow-up of dialectical behavior therapy vs therapy by experts for suicidal behaviors and borderline personality disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 63(7), 757–766. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.63.7.757

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