Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in Illinois

Although DBT is a particularly common treatment option for BPD, it still has other applications.

This form of talk therapy can be effectively used to treat depression, anxiety, and OCD. Substance abuse, too, is one of the problems it can help tackle. In fact, it’s one of the highest-order targets for DBT.

So, there’s no denying the usefulness of DBT in the field of addiction treatment. But the question here is, where to find a reliable provider who understands your needs?

Illinois Recovery Center, located in the heart of Swansea, is a licensed and accredited provider of several behavioral health care services. Read on to find out if the center’s DBT intervention is the right fit for you.

DBT at Illinois Recovery Center

Here’s more information about DBT interventions, their formats, and why to choose Illinois Recovery Center (IRC):

Integrating DBT into Substance Abuse Treatment Programs

Research indicates that DBT can be particularly useful for people who suffer from both a substance use disorder (SUD) and a mental health condition, which is what experts in the field call a dual diagnosis.

At IRC, we understand the importance of holistic approaches to treatment. Our clinicians don’t just consider the substance abuse history; they look at the patient as a whole individual, crafting a plan that caters to the spiritual, emotional, and mental aspects.

In fact, we offer dual diagnosis treatment specifically, where the treatment plan simultaneously addresses the SUD and the co-occurring mental health problem.

And a key aspect of dual diagnosis treatment programs is incorporating behavioral therapy interventions, like DBT, to help lessen self-destructive tendencies.

Core Elements That Make Our DBT Program Effective

There are three core features that make DBT effective for SUDs.

For one, we look at DBT as a support-based behavioral therapy. That’s why our therapists and counselors design every aspect of your treatment plan to give you the support you need to avoid relapses.

They’ll evaluate your recovery journey so far, looking for strength to help you feel good about your progress and stay on track to long-term sobriety.

And although DBT is concerned with intense emotions, we still understand that DBT is cognitive-based. After all, it’s actually derived from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

So, our DBT practices involve identifying the barriers—be it thoughts, emotions, or beliefs. This way, you can find out the root causes behind your addiction and work with qualified therapists to develop coping mechanisms.

The last core element, however, is all about the flow within the sessions.

DBT is a collaborative treatment by nature. We know that counselors can’t just jot down notes as their patients open up and discuss their trauma. Instead, they’re encouraged to work together as a sort of partnership.

Critical Recovery Skills You’ll Learn Through DBT

The DBT process at IRC is highly individualized. The different stages are tailored to each patient’s needs. But the overall goals are the same. Enhancing patients’ capabilities to improve is one of those goals, and it requires a list of skills to work on.

Therapists and counselors teach these skills through coaching, modeling, storytelling, and practicing in a low-risk environment.

In most cases, DBT providers work to improve four critical behavioral skills:

• Mindfulness
• Distress tolerance
• Emotional regulation
• Interpersonal effectiveness

Mindfulness is perhaps the most important skill you’ll learn in DBT, and it’s central to the remaining skills. Mastering it will help you tune into your senses and observe what’s happening inside, which is a vital tool for coping with triggers.

So, expect the DBT to involve meditative exercises, such as progressive muscle relaxation and diaphragmatic breathing.

Distress tolerance, on the other hand, is acquired through distractive sensory experiences and self-soothing activities. This part of DBT helps boost your acceptance.

However, you won’t always be able to sit with discomfort. Sometimes, you need to identify, name, and change whatever negative response you’re having at the moment. And that’s why you need to work on your emotional regulation, too.

Your therapist will teach you the emotional regulation skills needed to understand your emotions and keep them in check.

You’ll also learn to repair relationships and build new ones through interpersonal effectiveness. Of course, not every relationship is worth maintaining; sometimes, you have to cut ties or at least set boundaries, which requires assertiveness (that you’ll also practice in therapy).

DBT Formats and Settings That Suit Every Need

Adherent DBT is built on a combination of individual therapy and group skills training. And you’ll find both options at IRC. Our evidence-based therapeutic models include one-on-one sessions and group therapy, among other options.

We also understand that not all addictions are the same. People need different levels of care at different phases of their recovery process. That’s why we offer behavioral therapies in our residential, intensive outpatient, and partial hospitalization programs.

It’s also worth noting that DBT can be used to help people transition from rehab and back to their normal lives. Fortunately, our licensed clinicians continue offering outpatient counseling to people who’ve completed the main rehab program.

The Dedicated Team Behind Your Therapy

It’s perfectly normal for people considering treatment to wonder about who will actually provide the therapy they need. Are they really qualified for the job? Are they judgmental?

But at IRC, we go to extreme lengths to make sure everyone on the team is compassionate and aware of the challenges of addiction as a chronic disease of the brain. In fact, our center was founded by individuals in recovery themselves!

As for qualifications, our team is fueled by dedicated professionals.

Serving as Clinical Director of our Outpatient Services team is Jeff Brenneman, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 26+ years of experience in the field of mental health and addiction treatment.

Brenneman is also a nationally certified DBT clinician, fully familiar with the therapy framework and principles.

A Safe, Comfortable Space for a Fruitful Therapeutic Experience

Our center is located in a lush, serene spot in Swansea, Illinois. Everything you need to meditate and work on your core DBT skills is provided.

For more information about the location and amenities, tour our facility or give us a call on our direct line. And if you’re considering DBT as part of an inpatient program, you might want to check out the typical day-to-day experience of our residents.

If you’d like to start your day extra early, you could go for some physical activity in our gym, cardio room, or basketball court.

After a nutritious, balanced breakfast, you head to the morning huddle, where everyone gets the chance to ground themselves. Next, residents attend educational sessions on topics like emotions in recovery.

The specialized programs, however, come a bit later in the day, after lunch. That’s when you can practice your skills through therapies, like DBT.

Evenings at IRC are full of support and connection, with a variety of group recovery meetings.

All the Financial Help You Need

DBT sessions may be covered by your health insurance plan.

Our admissions team members are more than happy to help you find out whether IRC is an in-network provider or not. All you need to do is fill out a verification form with your insurance details so we can get back to you with a benefits verification report.

Don’t worry; the form is fully confidential, and your data will remain protected by HIPAA. The process is fairly quick, too. As long as you send in the form during business hours, you should have the full report within a few hours.

And, of course, we offer these benefits verifications free of charge. After all, we want everyone in our community to have access to the therapy they need. So, we’ll do our best to make sure financial concerns don’t end up as a barrier to treatment.

Even if you don’t have insurance, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’ll discuss the alternative paths forward.

Center and Program Accreditation

One aspect that you shouldn’t ignore when choosing a DBT or substance abuse treatment provider is the licensing and accreditation. It’s one way to check that the facility and staff comply with the standards on the national and state levels.

Fortunately, IRC’s behavioral health is accredited by The Joint Commission. That’s a testament to the center’s safety and clinical excellence!

National Listings and Reviews

Our center maintains a 4.9-star rating from over 300 reviews from former patients on Google. This reflects the quality of care our dedicated therapists, counselors, and other addiction treatment professionals deliver daily.

Plus, Illinois Recovery Center is also listed and verified on a number of national and local treatment directories, including:

• Psychology Today
• The Helpline Illinois database from the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS)
• The FindTreatment.gov search tool from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
• Recovered.org
• Recovery.com

FAQs

Talk to a Recovery Professional Today

The dialectical approach to addiction treatment is based on a delicate balance between insistence on total abstinence and non-judgmental responses to potential relapses.

For this balance to work, you need a therapist who unrelentingly pushes you towards sobriety without forgoing their compassion or problem-solving role.

Reach out to the Illinois Recovery Center team today to find this exact level of support.