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DBT through professionals is not simply a class or psychiatric approach. If and when you feel you would like to learn DBT from a professional, you will benefit a great deal from the experience. DBT professionals often require at least a one year commitment, which includes DBT training classes in a group setting supplemented by individual therapy (generally weekly) with a psychologist trained (and certified) in DBT. Some psychiatric facilities do offer in-patient DBT training and recovery programs if that suits your needs. To most, this is not only a wonderfully enriching experience, but a very effective way to learn the skills.
At the outset of the skills training, DBT instructors lay a foundation, called "Mindfulness". These are skills used to retrain your mind, unlearn bad habits and compulsions, replace them with the more constructive skills learned in the modules. Mindfulness, basically, provides you the tools necessary to take back control of your own mind. Mindfulness skills are also laced throughout each of the three DBT "modules":
- Distress Tolerance - Which teaches how to deal with stress while you're in it. For example, when an Alcoholic feels compelled to drink, or a compulsive gambler has the "need" to gamble. Distress Tolerance provides some fantastic tools to use to get you through the moment.
- Emotion Regulation - During this DBT module, instructors teach you how to keep your emotional state steady and "take care of yourself", which will reduce the likelihood of reaching distress. How can that over eater avoid that uncontrollable urge to binge?
- Interpersonal Effectiveness - This module provides some very useful insight, skills and tools to use to improve the way you communicate with others. This can include family members, co workers, and people on the street.
Unfortunately, many of the skills training courses focus on patients with a BPD diagnosis. However, many psychiatric facilities and rehabilitation centers are beginning to use DBT skills training to address substance abuse, gambling, over eating, compulsive shopping, and many others. The easiest way to find a DBT certified therapist is to check the Database at BehavioralTech. Or, interview therapists in your area to see how familiar they are with DBT. If they claim to understand DBT, ask a few pointed questions about DBT to probe a little deeper.
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