Prioritizing Treatment Goals in DBT for Substance Abuse

Laura-Petracek2

Private Practice

Key Points

  1. In DBT, treatment goals are prioritized based on the severity of and risks associated with behaviors.
  2. If a client has a heavy drinking problem, detoxification may be necessary before focusing on other treatment goals.
  3. DBT treatment protocols prioritize life-threatening behaviors, followed by substance use, negative thought patterns and feelings, and then everyday life problems of lesser severity.
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Safety First

In DBT, treatment interventions are prioritized based on the severity of the client’s behaviors and their presentation. The first priority is to address behaviors that pose a risk to a client’s safety, such as suicidal ideation, self-harm, or major substance use events. Life-threatening issues always take precedence.

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