Living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can mean managing difficult emotions at inconvenient times, which can mean pulling away from social events or avoiding specific places. This can be challenging for relationships and day-to-day responsibilities. But with the help of effective therapy for trauma, it doesn’t have to stay that way. People with PTSD can live happy lives when they learn effective management skills like those gleaned from dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).
Evidence-based therapies such as DBT can provide the tools you need to manage PTSD symptoms, improve your emotional well-being, and live life freely again. At Columbia Associates, we offer PTSD treatment services that integrate DBT techniques that help our clients regain control and stability.
What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)?
Originally developed for borderline personality disorder, DBT has also been noted as a proven treatment approach for individuals with PTSD. This treatment modality helps people learn to regulate emotions, manage distress, and develop healthier coping mechanisms.
It’s helpful to understand what individuals with PTSD are often up against. Symptoms can include:
- Flashbacks or intrusive thoughts
- Nightmares
- Hypervigilance
- Feelings of disconnection from the world
- Physical symptoms such as headaches or stomachaches
- Depression and hopelessness
There are two main concepts involved in the implementation of DBT: acceptance and change. These two ideas help people with PTSD acknowledge what they’ve been through while also empowering them to move forward. By focusing on:
- Mindfulness
- Distress tolerance
- Emotional regulation
- Interpersonal effectiveness
If left untreated, PTSD can be an open door to unhealthy coping mechanisms like substance use. With DBT, people can learn to manage difficult feelings and emotions and feel empowered to live life on their own terms again.
Why DBT Is Effective for PTSD Treatment
The intense emotional reactions that can come from PTSD can sometimes lead people to withdraw from relationships and avoid specific places or scenarios. DBT directly addresses these challenges by teaching healthy ways to cope without resorting to more harmful things like alcohol or drug use.
4 Specific Ways to Utilize DBT Skills for PTSD
DBT consists of four core skill sets that can help individuals navigate PTSD symptoms more effectively:
1. Mindfulness
Mindfulness practices teach people to stay focused on the present. This technique helps individuals not to become overwhelmed by hard memories from the past. Mindfulness is made up of exercises like deep breathing, body scans, and grounding techniques. These skills can help reduce PTSD-related anxiety.
2. Distress Tolerance
Techniques like self-soothing, intentional distraction, and radical acceptance can also help individuals manage challenging feelings without relying on less healthy coping mechanisms.
3. Emotional Regulation
Intense emotional fluctuations can be common for people living with PTSD. DBT supports individuals by helping them identify what they’re feeling and label those emotions. Understanding triggers helps people implement the strategies they’ve been taught whenever they encounter something potentially overwhelming.
4. Interpersonal Effectiveness
Communication and trust can be difficult for people with PTSD. Through boundary setting and effective communication, DBT is able to help people maintain connections with their loved ones.
Columbia Associates Utilizes DBT for PTSD Recovery
At Columbia Associates, our expert therapists integrate DBT into PTSD treatment, providing a structured, compassionate approach to healing. Our clients receive personalized treatment that addresses their specific needs, as well as an experienced team adept at a variety of modalities in addition to DBT. Our professionals assess progress along the way so that necessary changes can be made throughout your mental health journey.
Reach Out to Columbia Associates for Individualized PTSD Treatment Services
Healing from PTSD is possible with the right support and tools. DBT offers a practical, structured framework to help you or a loved one develop healthier coping strategies and build a great life. Give us a call today at 703.682.8208 to learn more.
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