More About Rehabs with Dialectical Behavior Therapy
More About Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a research-supported therapy that teaches you skills to manage intense emotions and reduce harmful behaviors, including substance use. Browse and compare rehab centers below that offer DBT as part of their treatment programs.
What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?
Dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT, is a type of therapy used to treat certain mental health conditions, including depression and bipolar disorder.1 Doctors first developed DBT to help people with borderline personality disorder who often had frequent suicidal thoughts, and it has since been adapted to support people with substance use disorder and other conditions.1,2
The word “dialectical” refers to combining two ideas that can both be true: accepting yourself as you are right now while also committing to change harmful behaviors.2 Your therapist helps you hold both ideas at once through validation instead of picking just one.
As part of drug and alcohol rehabilitation, DBT works toward five goals. These include improving your motivation to change, building new skills, and helping you use those skills in daily life.2 DBT also aims to shape a supportive environment around you and strengthen your therapist's ability to guide your care.2
Evidence-Based Treatment
The work of Marsha Linehan and DBT has been studied since the 1980s, helping form the strong foundation many clinicians who study and utilize DBT in practice.3,4 Research shows DBT is one of the few therapies with strong evidence for reducing self-harm behaviors, including self-injury, suicidal thoughts, and drug use, particularly for people who meet the criteria for borderline personality disorder.5
Multiple randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews have studied DBT for both borderline personality disorder and substance use disorder, building one of the larger evidence bases among behavioral therapies.3,4
A meta-analysis of DBT for substance use disorder found that treatment gains were maintained at follow-up in U.S.-based samples, which matters since relapse is common during recovery.6 Federal grant programs also recognize DBT as an evidence-based practice for treating substance use disorder alongside therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing.7
Who DBT May Help
Over the years, DBT has proven to be effective in helping people experiencing all kinds of various mental health conditions. Even children and adolescents have benefitted from DBT. Those who may especially benefit from DBT include people:
- With borderline personality disorder (BPD), especially when suicidal thoughts or self-harm are part of the picture.
- With substance use disorder who also live with BPD or another co-occurring mental health condition.
- Who experience intense emotions that make it hard to stop using drugs or alcohol.
- Who haven't found lasting results with other therapy approaches.
DBT calls for real commitment to weekly sessions and skills practice, so it may take more time and structure than some other therapies offer
What to Expect
- Intake and assessment: DBT usually begins with your care team conducting an intake and assessment of your history and current needs. They will utilize this information to determine how DBT can work for you.
- Individual and group sessions: A full DBT program typically combines weekly individual therapy with weekly group skills training, where you practice skills like mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.9
- Practicing skills between sessions: Between sessions, you'll often practice new skills and track your emotions and urges, which helps your therapist tailor your care over time.
You can find DBT in inpatient, outpatient, and intensive outpatient settings, and some programs offer it through telehealth as well.2
Related Treatment Approaches
- Cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT): Shares DBT's roots in CBT and changing unhelpful thought patterns, though DBT adds acceptance-based skills for intense emotions.
- Motivational interviewing: Often paired with DBT in addiction treatment to help strengthen your own motivation to change.
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): Frequently used alongside DBT when trauma or PTSD plays a role in emotional dysregulation or substance use.
- Group therapy: The format DBT skills training typically takes, alongside individual sessions.
Cost and Insurance
The cost of DBT in rehab depends on factors like your treatment setting, how often you attend sessions, and how long your program lasts. Inpatient programs that include DBT typically cost more than outpatient options because they provide round-the-clock care. Most insurance plans are required to cover medically necessary treatment for mental health and addiction under the Affordable Care Act, which may include DBT, though coverage varies by plan.8
Call your insurance provider to find out the specifics of your personal plan. Doing so can help you make the best decisions possible as you look for care.
Find a Rehab That Offers Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Whether you're looking for support for substance use alone or alongside a co-occurring mental health condition, the right treatment program can help you put these skills into practice. Browse rehab centers that offer DBT, compare your options, and take the next step toward lasting recovery.
Sources
1. Linehan, M., & Wilks, C. (2018). The course and evolution of dialectical behavior therapy. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 69(2), 97–110.
2. Dimeff, L. A., & Linehan, M. M. (2008). Dialectical behavior therapy for substance abusers. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 4(2), 39–47.
3. Chapman, A. L. (2006). Dialectical behavior therapy: Current indications and unique elements. Psychiatry (Edgmont), 3(9), 62–68.
4. Shi, K., Zhang, L. Y., Gao, B. L., Qian, Y., Huang, X. B., & Yue, J. L. (2025). Bibliometric analysis of global research on dialectical behavior therapy from 1987 to 2024. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1450497.
5. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2017). Common comorbidities with substance use disorders. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
6. Haktanır, A., & Callender, K. A. (2020). Meta-analysis of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) for treating substance use. Research on Education and Psychology, 4(Special Issue), 74–87.
7. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2024). Tribal affairs: Opioid response grants. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
8. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2022). About the Affordable Care Act.
9. Kells, M., Joyce, M., Flynn, D., Spillane, A., & Hayes, A. (2020). Dialectical behaviour therapy skills reconsidered: Applying skills training to emotionally dysregulated individuals who do not engage in suicidal and self-harming behaviours. Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation, 7, 3.