Dialectical Behavior Therapy in Niceville

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, is a modification of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The difference is that it was originally developed to treat suicidal ideation in those diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) with greater emphasis on the psychosocial elements of treatment. While it has become the go-to treatment for this situation, research has shown that it can also be successful when treating other disorders.

Licensed therapists can use Dialectical Behavior Therapy in Niceville to treat disorders including, but not limited to:

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Depression
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Substance Dependence
Eating Disorders

What Does Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Mean?

It is critical, at a primal level, that people suffering from depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other serious mental health issues feel accepted. They are worthwhile and they deserve to be healthy, both mentally and physically. At the same time, it is also important that they change their unhealthy thoughts and behaviors. While these two ideas may seem opposite, they go together to create lasting, positive changes. By synthesizing these opposites, our Niceville Dialectical Behavior Therapy program aims to help patients achieve their agreed goals.

The dialectical in DBT refers to integrating seemingly opposite things. It is bringing together or synthesizing opposites. Specifically, we can think about the “opposites” of acceptance and change with this therapy and how we might integrate these concepts within self. We commonly use the word AND instead of BUT. A dialectic is two simultaneous yet opposing truths. For example, you love your mother, and you also are frustrated with her choices in not being a present mother. This is a dialectic. Since a dialectic is rooted in the idea that is made up of opposites and that change occurs when there is a dialogue between the opposing ends, we can assume that all things are interconnected, and change is constant and inevitable.

What is Involved in Dialectic Behavioral Therapy in Niceville?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy in Niceville teaches clients behavioral skills which could involve an almost classroom-like setting. Clients become students, are assigned homework, and asked to practice what they have learned in a real environment. One of the keys to the success of dialectic behavioral therapy Dialectical Behavior Therapy is that clients practice the skills in real-life settings to develop their awareness and their abilities.

These practical life skills can be acquired over as many as 24 weeks, with several hours of learning per week. It might be possible to create shorter learning programs, depending on the needs of the individual(s) and the therapist’s recommendation.

We can also provide Dialectical Behavior Therapy over the phone or via electronic means. We understand that regular meetings for many weeks might be challenging for some people. Our telepsychology capabilities can ease the burden. We hope to make our Dialectical Behavior Therapy as accessible as possible. Our treatment does differ from specialized DBT programs where you have access to your therapist between sessions. Here at Krueger Wellness Institute, we offer support only during our scheduled session times, but we will work to prepare you to independently move throughout your week.

Our Niceville Dialectical behavior therapy programs include learning how to:

Tolerate distress – The focus here is not on change, but on learning how to tolerate pain.
Regulate emotions – By raising awareness of the client’s emotions, they can learn to understand, accept, and, if they choose, change them.
Be mindful – This helps the client remain in the moment, fully aware, fully present.
Be more assertive – Assertion training can show someone how to be effective in interpersonal communications without being aggressive or compromising respect for oneself or for others.

Another benefit of Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills is to assist in the therapeutic relationships which at times can hold its own dialectics. These skill sets can also be helpful in addressing client behaviors that are presenting in session.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Who Can Benefit from our Niceville Dialectal Behavior Therapy Program?

This type of therapy was developed to help people with severe mental illness or distress. At Krueger Wellness Institute in Niceville, a licensed mental health therapist can assess our clients’ needs and determine the most appropriate options.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy in Niceville can be especially helpful to those who exhibit signs that they are at risk of harming themselves. Our clients who have had suicidal thoughts, talk, or have ideations about committing suicide, or have self-harmed, are candidates for the help offered by Dialectical Behavior Therapy.

Dialectal Behavior Therapists at Krueger Wellness Institute

When our clients begin Dialectical Behavior Therapy, they typically report feeling “self-destructive, miserable, and out of control.” Our dialectical behavior therapists in Niceville start by raising our clients’ awareness of their behaviors and emotions. This is not typically a pleasant experience, but it is essential to help them achieve behavioral and emotional balance. This is one reason Dialectical Behavior Therapy focuses on assisting people to develop tolerance of their reported pain and suffering.

Our dialectical behavior therapists then move to helping the clients be mindful and engaged striving toward integration of opposing symptoms, beliefs, and goals through emotional. We can build on this foundation with the skills to live a more balanced, more effective, and healthier life.

When our clients begin sessions with our dialectical behavior therapists, they may feel that life is about suffering. Over time, our clients gain the ability to see and think clearly enough to consider their personal goals for happiness, and even joy.

Contact our trained and licensed mental health professionals at Krueger Wellness Institute to turn your life or the life of a loved one around.

We also offer Dialectical Behavior Therapy sessions available for clients residing in Destin, Bluewater Bay, and Fort Walton Beach.