Stages of Change
Are there Different Stages of Change in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy?
According to Dr. Marsha Linehan, the developer of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), there are different stages of change measured with DBT. Here at Avalon Malibu, our trained staff adheres to Dr. Linehan’s theories by helping the client to boost their motivation and change their behavior by applying the skills and principles of DBT.
Depending on the client’s issues or the degree of their addiction, DBT therapy uses a model that divides treatment into four “stages of change.”
The Stages of Change Are:
Stage 1 – Centered on stabilizing the client into achieving behavioral control.
Stage 2 – Replace quiet desperation with non-traumatic emotional experiences.
Stage 3 – Teaching our clients to achieve an ordinary happiness in everyday living.
Stage 4 (the final stage) – Resolve a sense of incompleteness, thus achieving joy and relaxation.
What Does the Use of DBT Mean for the Well-Being of Our Clients?
“Dialectic” means weighing and integrating contradictory ideas and facts to help resolve thoughts and feelings that, on the surface, appear to be opposites. In Dialectical Behavioral Therapy at Avalon Malibu, therapists and clients work hard to find harmony between change and acceptance, two seemingly contradictory forces or strategies. Therapists balance the use of acceptance (we accept that we possess addictive behaviors) and change (we know we need to change our behaviors to reach our goal of sobriety). This symmetry is required to maintain forward movement in the client’s health and recovery and allows for greater improvements in functioning and social adjustments. This will help them in life outside of therapy, as everyone struggles to find balance in their actions, feelings, and thoughts. Our staff works to integrate both passionate feelings and logical thoughts into treatment so that the whole person is healed.
When working with DBT therapies and substance dependent individuals, our clients have seen a significant reduction in the use of illicit substances, measured by both structured interviews and urinalysis during treatment and aftercare.
Avalon Malibu’s team of experts first get the client’s actions under control, then help them to feel more prepared to resolve problems effectively. Our full range of cognitive and behavioral therapies are integrated into the treatment and supported by Avalon’s beautiful seaside environment, luxurious surroundings, and holistic therapies.
Who Leads the Dialectical Behavioral Therapy at Avalon Malibu?
The Avalon Malibu staff is here to open the door for our clients to discover new capabilities and assist in structuring their treatment programs. It should be noted that in dialectical behavioral therapy, the individual therapist is in charge of this treatment. That means it is the individual therapist’s job to coordinate the treatment with other treatment team members, such as leaders in the skills groups, other psychiatrists, and wellness counselors. In collaboration with the client, the therapist keeps track of how the treatment is progressing, how everyone involved in the treatment is doing, and whether or not this treatment is helping the client reach his or her goals. Our ultimate goal is to make sure therapists treat the client effectively according to his or her needs.
