Dialectical behavior therapy

DBT was initially developed to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD), but its benefits have extended to a variety of mental health issues. DBT has shown effectiveness in treating:

• Addiction
• Substance use disorder (SUD)
• Alcohol use disorder (AUD)
• Depression
• Mood disorders
• Self-harming behaviors
• Suicide ideation and attempts
• Eating disorders (e.g., bulimia, anorexia, binge eating disorder)

Additionally, DBT tends to be more effective when:

• You’re motivated to complete homework assignments between sessions.
• You’re ready to focus on present challenges and future growth rather than past events.
• You’re comfortable with the idea of group therapy or group skills training. Some individuals benefit from the collective support of a group, while others may prefer one-on-one therapy sessions.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) focuses on helping individuals achieve a balance between accepting themselves and their challenges while also learning skills to create meaningful change. The core idea is that accepting yourself as you are is essential, but so is pushing yourself to make positive changes. This balance between acceptance and change is what sets DBT apart from other therapeutic approaches. This unique balance between acceptance and change is what distinguishes DBT from other therapeutic methods.

In DBT, you’ll engage in a combination of different approaches. First, there’s an initial assessment with your therapist, where you’ll discuss your needs, challenges, and goals. This helps determine if DBT is the right fit for you. If both you and your therapist agree, you’ll move forward with the treatment plan.

The therapy includes regular individual sessions, which are focused on addressing your specific concerns. These sessions are designed to help you reduce harmful behaviors like self-harm or suicidal tendencies, overcome obstacles that may be hindering your progress, and work towards your goals. You’ll also learn skills to replace unhelpful behaviors and improve your overall quality of life. Throughout individual therapy, you may be encouraged to keep a diary of your emotions and actions to help identify patterns that need attention.

DBT also includes skills training in a group setting, which is more like a learning environment than traditional group therapy. In these sessions, you’ll learn practical skills in four key areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and emotion regulation. These skills are designed to help you cope with life’s challenges, manage stress, and improve relationships.

The duration of DBT treatment varies depending on individual goals and how a person responds to the therapy. Generally, outpatient DBT requires at least six months of treatment, though it often extends to a year or more.

DBT focuses on four key skill areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and emotion regulation. These skills are taught through distinct group training modules. The typical schedule begins with two weeks of mindfulness training, followed by five to seven weeks of training for each of the other skills. After each of the skills modules, there is another two-week mindfulness module to reinforce those techniques.

In total, the basic DBT program takes about six months to complete the core skills training. However, many individuals will repeat some of the modules, meaning that most people spend a year or more in the program.

Not all DBT programs follow the same structure. For example, inpatient or partial hospitalization programs may offer more condensed schedules for skills training.

Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is often covered by insurance, especially when it is part of an accredited treatment program. Under the Affordable Care Act, health insurance providers are required to cover mental health and substance use treatments on par with medical and surgical procedures. However, coverage details can vary based on your insurance provider, the specifics of your policy, and the type of treatment you are receiving. Generally, insurance plans cover therapy if it’s considered medically necessary and included in a structured treatment plan prescribed by licensed professionals.

While some plans may fully or partially cover DBT sessions, others may impose limitations such as the number of sessions or require co-pays. The level of coverage depends on factors such as whether the therapy is part of inpatient or outpatient treatment, the duration of therapy, and whether it’s being used for conditions like substance use disorder, depression, anxiety, or other mental health concerns.

To confirm whether your insurance will help with the cost of therapy, give us a call at (888) 123-4567 for a free and quick insurance benefits check.