Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
**Strong emotions can make recovery difficult, especially when alcohol or drugs have become a familiar way to cope. **
**Call (866) 655-2113 to speak with our team about addiction therapies in Tennessee. **
What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?
Dialectical behavior therapy is a structured form of psychotherapy that combines acceptance with change. A therapist helps you acknowledge your current experiences while developing more effective responses. You can recognize that a situation hurts and also work toward handling it differently.
DBT originally developed as a treatment for borderline personality disorder. Clinicians also use adapted approaches for other concerns, including substance use. The treatment emphasizes learning skills and applying them to situations outside therapy. Your needs guide the goals and format of care.
Understanding Acceptance and Change
Acceptance means acknowledging what is happening in the present.
You might recognize that you feel ashamed after an argument or notice a strong urge to drink. Naming the experience can help you understand what needs attention.
Change involves choosing a response that supports your goals. You may step away from the argument and return when you can speak calmly. You might contact someone supportive while a craving passes. DBT helps you practice these responses so you have options during difficult moments.
Outpatient Detox Center Locations
We provide outpatient detox programs in Tennessee, with accessible care and experienced providers in every location.
Each center provides consistent, high-quality care with a focus on compassion, privacy, and accessibility.
The Four Main DBT Skill Areas
DBT teaches skills in four areas that address different aspects of emotional and interpersonal functioning. A therapist helps you understand each area and identify where particular skills may fit your life.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness involves paying attention to your current experience with less judgment. You practice noticing thoughts and physical sensations before reacting. In recovery, that might mean recognizing an urge to use and pausing long enough to choose your next action.
Distress Tolerance
Distress tolerance skills help you get through painful moments safely. You learn ways to manage immediate urges while a situation remains difficult. A therapist may help you practice grounding or identify a healthy distraction that gives you time to consider what to do.
Emotion Regulation
Emotion regulation involves understanding emotional responses and the factors that influence them. You can learn to recognize feelings earlier and choose actions that reduce vulnerability to intense distress. Caring for sleep and maintaining routines may form part of that work.
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Interpersonal effectiveness focuses on communicating needs and protecting self-respect within relationships. You may practice setting a boundary or asking directly for help. These skills can be useful when relationship stress contributes to substance use or makes recovery harder to maintain.
How DBT Can Support Addiction Recovery
Substance use may offer temporary relief from emotional pain while creating further difficulties. DBT helps you examine what leads to that pattern and practice other responses. Treatment can focus on the moments when distress increases your urge to use.
For example, feeling rejected may lead you to contact someone who supplies drugs. In therapy, you can explore that sequence and plan a safer action earlier in the process. The goal is to build responses you can use when similar circumstances arise.
Who May Benefit From DBT?
A clinical assessment helps determine whether DBT fits your concerns. Emotional difficulties can have several causes, and treatment should reflect your circumstances. A provider also considers whether another approach or additional services would support your goals.
DBT may be worth discussing if these experiences sound familiar:
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Your emotions become intense quickly and feel difficult to manage.
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You use substances when you feel overwhelmed.
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You act impulsively during distress and later regret the consequences.
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Relationship conflict repeatedly affects your well-being.
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You struggle to express your needs or maintain boundaries.
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You want practical skills to help you respond differently in difficult situations.
What Happens During DBT Treatment?
In individual sessions, a therapist may help you examine a recent event and the behaviors surrounding it. You can identify what increased distress and what happened afterward. Together, you consider where a skill could help change the sequence.
Skills training often includes instruction and practice, sometimes in a group. Comprehensive DBT also includes between-session coaching and a therapist consultation team. Some providers offer selected DBT skills within a broader program. Ask about the format so you understand which services a provider offers.
DBT Skills in Everyday Recovery
Learning a skill in therapy gives you a starting point. Using it during everyday stress takes practice. You may begin with a situation that feels manageable, then review the experience with your therapist.
Examples of skills practice include:
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Pausing Before Acting: You take a brief pause when an urge appears and consider a safer response.
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Naming an Emotion: You identify what you feel so you can choose a skill that fits the situation.
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Asking for Support: You explain what you need to a trusted person before distress escalates.
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Setting a Boundary: You communicate a limit around situations that put recovery at risk.
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Planning for Difficult Moments: You identify actions and contacts that can help you manage distress safely.
How DBT Fits With Detox
Withdrawal can affect your ability to concentrate and participate in therapy. Medical assessment helps determine what support you need first. Your treatment team can discuss when counseling may be appropriate as symptoms stabilize.
Outpatient Detox Near Me provides medically supervised withdrawal care for appropriate candidates at our Bartlett clinic. Our team evaluates safety and monitors symptoms during scheduled visits. We also plan continuing care before detox ends. You can ask about DBT and other therapy options when discussing that plan.
Preparing for Continued Treatment
Tell your care team about the situations that make recovery challenging. You might struggle most during conflict or find evenings alone especially difficult. Specific information can help guide recommendations for ongoing support.
If you’re considering DBT, ask how the provider addresses substance use and whether the program fits your other mental health needs. Discuss attendance expectations and opportunities to practice skills. A realistic schedule can help you participate consistently and continue the work between appointments.
Finding Dialectical Behavioral Therapy in Memphis
People seeking DBT in the Memphis area can begin with an evaluation from a qualified mental health professional. Ask about the clinician’s DBT training and experience with your concerns. Clarify whether the provider offers comprehensive DBT or incorporates selected skills into treatment.
Our team offers insurance verification for detox services and discusses next steps for continued care. Coverage for therapy may depend on the provider and your plan.
Medical review by Dr. Jawaun Lewis.