Dialectical Behavior Therapy in Recovery
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is cognitive behavioral therapy that was originally established for the treatment of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Research has now shown that DBT is a proven therapeutic modality that is helpful in other mental illnesses including substance abuse.
In the case of using DBT for substance abuse, the drug and alcohol use is seen as a form of self-harm to the client.
At Invicta Recovery Center, we may utilize DBT to support those in recovery as part of our therapeutic learning environment.
How Does DBT Work?
Imagine therapies like traditional talk-therapy or cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) as tools for managing thoughts and behaviours. DBT takes that toolbox and adds something additional: the idea of acceptance alongside change. That’s the “dialectical” part—embracing two truths at once. You accept where you are, and you work toward change.
Originally developed in the 1980s by psychologist Marsha Linehan to help people with borderline personality disorder and chronic emotional dysregulation, DBT has grown into a treatment that’s also effective for substance use disorders (SUDs) and co-occurring mental health issues.
In simple terms: DBT helps you learn skills for coping with intense emotions, stand by yourself when you feel triggered, and build a life worth living—even in the midst of recovery.
Why DBT Matters in Recovery from Substance Use and/or Mental Illness
Why DBT matters in recovery from substance use and mental health issues:
- Emotional Regulation
- Many folks coming into treatment for substance use or mental-health issues are dealing with big emotions—anger, shame, grief, fear—that feel overwhelming. DBT gives you tools to regulate these emotions rather than be ruled by them.
- Distress Tolerance
- There will be moments in recovery when you just feel like you have to use or your mental-health symptoms spike. DBT teaches you ways to weather the storm—to get through the moment without reacting in ways you’ll regret. Studies show greater distress-tolerance skills are linked with fewer urges to use.
- Interpersonal Effectiveness
- Recovery doesn’t happen in isolation. DBT helps you navigate relationships: asking for what you need, saying “no” when you must, setting boundaries—all of which matter when rebuilding life after substance use or during mental-health recovery.
- Mindfulness
- Being present—aware of what’s happening in your body, mind, and environment—helps you interrupt automatic reactions (like picking up substances, or reverting to self-destructive behaviour). DBT emphasizes this.
- Evidence for SUDs and Co-occurring Disorders
- When someone has both substance use AND mental-health struggles (which is very common), DBT has been adapted to address both. These adaptations—sometimes called “DBT-SUD”—merge standard DBT with strategies specific to addiction: relapse prevention, skills for craving management, chain-analysis of behaviour, etc.
- In short: DBT isn’t just “another therapy.” It’s a skills-based, structured, practical approach that fits well into a recovery programme, and it complements the work you’re already doing (therapy, support groups, medical care, etc).
How DBT Works: What You’ll Actually Do
Let’s break down what DBT looks like in day-to-day life, especially in a recovery setting.
Structure – Typically DBT includes several components ⤵︎
Therapist consultation team: A behind-the-scenes support system so the therapist stays on track and you get best care. (You don’t need to worry about this piece in detail—just know your provider is getting support.)
Individual therapy: One-on-one with a trained DBT therapist, talking about your goals, behaviours, what triggered you, and reviewing homework/skills.
Skills group training: A class-style setting where you learn the four core DBT modules (more on those in a moment). These sessions are often weekly.
Phone coaching / crisis support: When you’re in a moment of stress or urge, you might reach out to your therapist or coach to apply skills in real time.
Coping Skills – Here are the big four skill-areas you’ll learn ⤵︎
Mindfulness – Being fully present in the moment, noticing what’s going on inside and outside without judgement.
Distress Tolerance – Getting through painful or crisis moments without resorting to substances or self-destructive behaviour.
Emotion Regulation – Understanding your emotions, reducing emotional vulnerability, and using skills to change emotions when needed.
Interpersonal Effectiveness – Having healthy relationships: asking for what you need, saying no, maintaining self-respect.
Tailoring DBT for recovery – Because the recovery setting brings specific challenges (cravings, relapse risk, co-occurring disorders), there are adaptations in DBT-SUD such as ⤵︎
More focus on chain-analysis of using behaviour (what happened, what thoughts, what feelings, what actions, what consequences) so you can map breakdowns.
Skills to target substance-use triggers and learn alternatives.
Emphasis on harm-reduction, relapse prevention, and supporting multiple domains of life.
“It is hard to be happy without a life worth living. This is a fundamental tenet of DBT. Of course, all lives are worth living in reality. No life is not worth living. But what is important is that you experience your life as worth living—one that is satisfying, and one that brings happiness,” says Marsha M. Linehan, the creator of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
How DBT might help you in recovery
Let’s make this real: how will DBT show up in your everyday recovery process, what benefits might you notice?
✅ Fewer relapses, fewer urges
Research shows that the skills you acquire can lead to fewer urges and better management of cravings. For example, using distress-tolerance skills the prior day was associated with fewer urges the next day. That means you’ll start to notice: “Okay, I felt an urge, I used my skill, and I didn’t act on it.”
✅ ✅ Better emotional resilience
Instead of being hijacked by emotion (which often drives substance use or relapse), DBT gives you tools to respond differently. You might feel weaker emotions as less urgent, less overwhelming, more manageable. This helps reduce a lot of “Why am I feeling this? I’ll just use to stop it” thinking.
✅ ✅ ✅ Improved relationships
Recovery is not just about stopping substance use—it’s about rebuilding life, reconnecting, restoring trust, creating new routines. Interpersonal effectiveness skills help you set boundaries (yes, it’s okay to say no), ask for help, handle conflict—all of which support long-term recovery.
✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ A life worth living
One of DBT’s phrasing is “building a life worth living.” What that means: Recovery isn’t just abstaining—it’s moving toward something positive. A meaningful job, better health, healthier relationships, hobbies you enjoy, a self you’re proud of. When you feel like your life matters, relapse becomes less likely.
✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ Addressing co-occurring mental health
If you’re dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, or other mental-health issues and substance use, DBT is especially helpful because it’s designed to treat complex layers—not just surface behaviour. That dual focus protects your recovery by strengthening your emotional / mental foundation.
What to Expect: A Recovery-Friendly View
Here’s a realistic peek at what applying DBT could look like while you’re in treatment or early recovery at Invicta:
| Week by week you attend your DBT skills group and individual therapy (consult your treatment coordinator for schedule). | You’ll get a “homework” or “skills assignment” each week: maybe practice a mindfulness exercise, or track a distress moment and what you did. | When you feel triggered—to drink, use, self-harm, or emotionally crack—you reach for DBT skills: deep breathing, check what I’m feeling, separate urge from action, call your coach or use the phone-line. | Your therapist guides you through chain-analysis of any breakdown: How did I go from feeling upset → to wanting to use? Step by step. Then you plan alternate skill responses. | Over time you’ll notice you don’t always react the same way. You have more space, options, self-control. You may also start shifting major life domains: work, family, wellness, community. |
At Invicta, we integrate DBT into our recovery program so you’re not trying to figure out therapy in isolation—you’re supported, connected, guided. Contact us today by calling or texting 626-238-1511 for a free and confidential consultation.
Tips to Get the Most Out of DBT in Your Recovery Journey
🙌 Be consistent. The benefit comes from regular skills use—not just once in a while.
🙌 Practice when calm. Skills training often works best when you’re not in crisis. Then when you are triggered, you already know what to do.
🙌 Do the homework. It might feel like “extra work,” but that practice is how the skills become automatic.
🙌 Be honest in therapy. Talk openly with your therapist about cravings, slips, emotional wrecks. DBT is built for real life.
🙌 Celebrate small wins. Didn’t use when you wanted to? That’s a win. Used a skill when you felt desperate? Big win.
🙌 Use peer support. DBT and recovery both work better with community. Lean into group sessions, 12-step or non-12-step peer groups, and friends who support you.
🙌 Expect setbacks—but plan for them. Recovery isn’t linear. DBT helps you bounce back rather than spiral. If you slip or relapse, use skills to analyze what happened, adjust, move forward.
🙌 Apply to everyday life. Skills aren’t just for big crises. Use them when you’re stressed at work, upset with a loved one, bored, triggered by memories. They’ll strengthen over time.
Why choose Invicta Recovery Center for DBT-based recovery?
At Invicta Recovery Center, we understand that recovery is not just about stopping substances—
it’s about starting to live again, fully. Here’s how we build on DBT and support you:
✅ Specialised integration: DBT is embedded into our treatment framework—not tacked on as an afterthought.
✅ Experienced clinicians: Our therapists are trained in DBT and understand how to adapt it for substance use and co-occurring mental health.
✅ Holistic approach: We pair DBT skills with medical care, peer support, wellness activities, life-skills training, relapse prevention.
✅ Individual and group support: You’ll get both 1:1 therapy and group DBT skills training—covering both your internal world and external life.
✅ 24/7 access: When urges hit, or emotions surge at odd hours, you’re not on your own. We’re here.
✅ Focus on life-beyond-use: We help you build a vision of what’s next—not just what you’re leaving behind.
Call us now at 626-238-1511 to speak with a team member, ask questions, and discuss how DBT fits into your personalised treatment plan. You don’t have to figure it out alone.
FAQs: Common questions people ask about DBT in recovery
Q: “Is DBT just for borderline personality disorder?”
A: Nope. Though originally developed for BPD, DBT has been adapted and found effective for many issues—including SUDs, depression, anxiety, trauma.
Q: “How long does it take?”
A: It depends on your situation. Some programmes run 6 months or more; skills groups might run 24 weeks. In a recovery setting, DBT is part of a broader process, so treat it as one pillar—not a quick fix.
Q: “What if I relapse during DBT?”
A: DBT expects setbacks. What matters is how you respond. Use the chain-analysis: what led to the relapse, what skills could have helped, what you’ll do next time. You’re still learning. Relapse is a moment, not a failure.
Q: “Can I use DBT skills outside of therapy sessions?”
A: Yes—and that’s the goal. The real value comes when you use skills in real life: at work, with family, when remembering trauma, when feeling stuck. That makes the shift durable.
Q: “Is DBT covered by insurance?”
A: Many insurance plans cover evidence-based therapies including DBT, especially when combined with substance-use treatment. Always check with your provider.
Bringing it all together
Recovery is a journey—not just of stopping substances, but of building something meaningful. DBT offers you a toolkit to:
- accept where you are without shame
- change what you can to live differently
- respond to high-risk moments with skills instead of habit
- rebuild your relationships and your life
- integrate mind, heart, and behaviour into a coherent path forward
At Invicta Recovery Center, we invite you to walk that path with us. If you’re ready to explore how DBT can fit into your recovery plan, or if you’re wondering “Is this the right time for me?”, call us or text us at 626-238-1511. Our doors are open, and a caring team is ready to listen and help.
You don’t have to do this alone. DBT can be your steady compass. Recovery can be your next chapter. And Invicta will be right by your side.
