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Evidence-Based Addiction Treatment — South Jersey

Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Addiction Treatment in New Jersey

Maplewood Treatment Solutions uses DBT to help clients build lives worth living. Learn how this powerful, skills-based therapy teaches emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and mindfulness within an individualized addiction treatment plan.

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Understanding the Therapy

What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, known as DBT, is a comprehensive, evidence-based treatment originally developed by psychologist Dr. Marsha Linehan in the late 1980s. DBT was created specifically to address clients who struggle with intense emotional experiences, chronic self-destructive behavior, and the difficulty of maintaining stable relationships. Today it is one of the most widely applied therapeutic frameworks in addiction treatment settings across the country.

The word “dialectical” refers to the balance at the heart of the model: the integration of acceptance and change. DBT teaches clients to fully accept themselves and their current reality while simultaneously working toward meaningful behavioral change. This balance is especially powerful for individuals in recovery, who often struggle with both shame-driven self-rejection and resistance to making difficult changes.

DBT is recognized by SAMHSA as an evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders, particularly for clients with co-occurring emotional dysregulation, borderline personality disorder, PTSD, depression, and anxiety. At Maplewood, DBT is integrated into individualized treatment plans and delivered by licensed clinicians trained in the full DBT model.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy session at Maplewood Treatment Solutions in South Jersey

Why DBT Works for Addiction

Many clients with substance use disorders use substances as a way to regulate unbearable emotional states. DBT directly targets this pattern by teaching concrete skills for managing emotions without substances. When clients can tolerate distress, regulate their feelings, and navigate relationships effectively, the need for substances as a coping mechanism decreases significantly.

The Four Core Skill Sets

The DBT Skills Framework: Four Modules That Build a Life Worth Living

What sets DBT apart from other therapies is its structured, skills-based curriculum. Rather than relying solely on insight or processing, DBT equips clients with specific, teachable tools organized into four interconnected skill modules. Together, these modules address every dimension of the emotional dysregulation that drives substance use.

01

 

Mindfulness

The foundation of all DBT skills. Mindfulness teaches clients to observe their thoughts and feelings without judgment, participate fully in the present moment, and develop the awareness needed to use other DBT skills effectively. In addiction treatment, mindfulness is essential for recognizing cravings before they become consuming and for creating space between a trigger and a response.

02

 

Distress Tolerance

Clients learn to survive crisis moments without making them worse. Distress tolerance skills include TIPP (Temperature, Intense exercise, Paced breathing, Progressive relaxation), radical acceptance, and self-soothe techniques. These skills are critical for early recovery, when discomfort and cravings are at their most intense and the temptation to relapse is greatest.

03

 

Emotion Regulation

This module teaches clients to identify, understand, and reduce the intensity of painful emotions. Skills include identifying the function of an emotion, reducing vulnerability to emotional dysregulation through PLEASE (Physical illness, Eating, Avoid substances, Sleep, Exercise), building positive experiences, and acting opposite to destructive emotional urges. For clients whose substance use is tied to emotional pain, this module is transformative.

04

 

Interpersonal Effectiveness

Many clients in addiction treatment have strained or damaged relationships as a result of their substance use. Interpersonal effectiveness teaches clients how to ask for what they need, say no assertively, maintain self-respect, and build and sustain healthy relationships. The DEAR MAN, GIVE, and FAST skills provide a practical communication framework that supports recovery-oriented social connections.

 

DBT skills framework infographic — Maplewood Treatment Solutions New Jersey

Clinical Application

How DBT Is Applied in Addiction Treatment at Maplewood

Full DBT consists of four components delivered together: individual therapy, skills training group, phone coaching, and therapist consultation team. At Maplewood’s residential treatment program, our clinicians deliver DBT in a format adapted for the intensive residential setting, ensuring clients receive the core elements of the model within a structured, supportive environment.

In individual DBT sessions, the therapist and client work through a diary card review, address any behaviors that threaten life or treatment, and then work on applying skills to the client’s specific patterns. Behavioral chain analysis is a key tool in this process. When a client uses substances or engages in other harmful behaviors, the therapist guides them through a precise, step-by-step analysis of the chain of events, thoughts, emotions, and environmental factors that led to that moment. This analysis is not punitive. Rather, it is a problem-solving tool that reveals exactly where in the chain a DBT skill could have interrupted the behavior.

Group DBT skills training at Maplewood runs in a structured, classroom-like format where clients learn and practice the four modules in sequence. Additionally, clients are coached on how to apply these skills between sessions, reinforcing the learning in real-time situations. For clients with co-occurring mental health conditions, DBT provides the most direct path to addressing both the addiction and the underlying emotional dysregulation simultaneously.

Diary Cards

Clients track emotions, urges, substance use, skill use, and distress levels daily using structured diary cards. This daily log keeps both client and therapist accountable and ensures every session is targeted and data-informed rather than open-ended.

Behavioral Chain Analysis

When a problem behavior occurs, the therapist and client map the entire chain of events that preceded it. This tool identifies the specific links in the chain where skills could intervene and prevents the same chain from repeating.

Radical Acceptance

One of DBT’s most powerful concepts, radical acceptance teaches clients to fully accept reality as it is rather than fighting it. For people in early recovery, accepting the reality of addiction without judgment is often the breakthrough that makes change possible.

Skills Training Group

Structured group sessions teach the four DBT modules in a psychoeducational format. Clients learn skills together, practice them in role-plays, and support each other’s application. This group format builds the peer accountability that is critical to long-term recovery.

Opposite Action

When a destructive emotion is driving a harmful urge, opposite action directs the client to act in the exact opposite direction of the urge. For someone who feels shame and wants to isolate, opposite action means reaching out. For someone who feels rage and wants to confront, it means withdrawing and self-soothing.

Crisis Survival Skills

TIPP, STOP, and Pros and Cons are DBT crisis tools that help clients survive high-intensity moments without relapsing or engaging in self-destructive behavior. These skills are practiced extensively during treatment so they are available automatically when a crisis hits after discharge.

Personalized Care

DBT in an Individualized Treatment Plan at Maplewood serving the South Jersey community

DBT is not applied as a generic protocol at Maplewood. Every client who receives DBT-informed treatment has a plan that is built specifically around their history, their emotional patterns, and the behaviors that are most directly interfering with their recovery and quality of life. The first step is always a thorough biopsychosocial assessment within the first 72 hours of admission.

For clients whose substance use is deeply entangled with emotional dysregulation, self-harm, suicidal ideation, or trauma, DBT may serve as the primary therapeutic framework throughout the entire course of treatment. For other clients, DBT skills may be integrated alongside other modalities, such as evidence-based addiction therapies, medication-assisted treatment, and trauma-focused interventions.

Our treatment team also recognizes that DBT is particularly valuable for clients who have struggled with other forms of treatment in the past. Many people arrive at Maplewood after multiple treatment episodes that did not address their emotional dysregulation. DBT reaches clients who feel like nothing has worked before — because it directly targets the mechanisms that standard addiction treatment often misses.

Who Benefits Most from DBT in Addiction Treatment

  • Clients with intense, rapidly shifting emotional states
  • Individuals with a history of self-harm or suicidal ideation
  • Clients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder
  • Those who use substances specifically to escape emotional pain
  • Clients with trauma and PTSD alongside substance use disorder
  • Individuals who have been through multiple treatment episodes without success
  • Clients struggling with alcohol, opioids, prescription, or drug dependency,  driven  by  emotional  pain.

What a DBT-Informed Treatment Plan Includes

  • A behavioral target hierarchy identifying the behaviors most urgently interfering with the client’s recovery
  • Daily diary card completion with weekly clinician review
  • Individual DBT therapy with chain analysis of problem behaviors
  • DBT skills training group covering all four modules
  • Integration with MAT, family therapy, and psychiatric medication management where indicated
  • A comprehensive discharge plan carrying DBT skills and ongoing skills coaching into aftercare

A Day in DBT-Informed Residential Treatment

Sample Daily Schedule at Maplewood Treatment Solutions

Structure is itself a therapeutic tool in DBT treatment. A consistent, predictable daily routine reduces emotional volatility, decreases impulsive behavior, and provides the stability that early recovery requires. Below is a representative daily schedule for residential clients receiving DBT-integrated treatment at Maplewood’s inpatient program.

TimeActivityDBT Connection
7:00 AMWake-Up & Mindful Morning RoutineMindfulness module. Starting the day with intentional awareness rather than reactive behavior sets the tone for skill use throughout the day.
7:30 AMBreakfast & CommunityInterpersonal effectiveness practice. Navigating morning social interactions is an opportunity to use GIVE and FAST skills in low-stakes settings.
8:30 AMDiary Card Review & Morning Check-InClients review their diary cards from the previous evening with clinical staff. Patterns in emotions, urges, and skill use are identified for the day’s focus.
9:30 AMIndividual DBT Therapy DBTOne-on-one session with a licensed clinician. Includes diary card review, chain analysis of any problem behaviors, and skills coaching tailored to the client’s behavioral targets.
11:00 AMDBT Skills Training Group DBTStructured psychoeducational group working through one of the four modules. Clients learn new skills, practice them in role-plays, and discuss real-world application.
12:30 PMLunch & Rest PeriodStructured rest supports PLEASE skills (sleep and self-care). Scheduled downtime reduces emotional vulnerability and prevents the depletion that triggers cravings.
1:30 PMDistress Tolerance Practice Group DBTFocused practice of crisis survival skills — TIPP, STOP, Pros and Cons, and Radical Acceptance. Skills are rehearsed until they are automatic, not theoretical.
3:00 PMPhysical Exercise / RecreationIntense exercise is a TIPP skill that rapidly reduces emotional arousal. Regular physical activity also supports the PLEASE skills of the emotion regulation module.
4:30 PMFamily Therapy or PsychoeducationInterpersonal effectiveness extends to the family system. Families learn how to support recovery, understand DBT principles, and communicate in ways that reinforce the client’s skill use.
6:00 PMDinner & Community TimeFurther interpersonal practice. Mealtimes are opportunities to build positive experiences, a key emotion regulation skill that counters the negativity bias of early recovery.
7:00 PM12-Step or SMART Recovery MeetingPeer support reinforces radical acceptance and the commitment to building a life worth living. SMART Recovery is directly built on DBT-compatible principles.
8:30 PMDiary Card Completion & Evening ReflectionClients complete their daily diary card, rating emotions, urges, and skill use. This nightly practice builds self-awareness and keeps therapy focused and accountable.
9:30 PMWind Down & Lights OutConsistent sleep is a PLEASE skill. Adequate rest reduces emotional sensitivity and strengthens the neurological changes that DBT is designed to support.

Local Access to Evidence-Based Care

Serving Clients Across South Jersey and the Greater Philadelphia Region

Maplewood Treatment Solutions is located at 214 W Maple Ave in Merchantville, NJ, making us one of the most accessible DBT-informed residential treatment programs in the South Jersey and greater Philadelphia area. We serve clients from across Camden County, Burlington County, Gloucester County, Salem County, and beyond.

For families facing a crisis, proximity matters. Having a high-quality residential program close to home allows family members to remain engaged in treatment through family therapy, education sessions, and regular visitation all of which are central to DBT’s family-inclusive model.

Camden County, NJ
Burlington County, NJ
Gloucester County, NJ
Salem County, NJ
Cherry Hill, NJ
Moorestown, NJ
Marlton, NJ
Haddonfield, NJ
Philadelphia, PA
Merchantville, NJ
Collingswood, NJ
Mount Laurel, NJ

Getting Started Is Simple

A Fast, Private Admissions Process Built for Families in Crisis in South Jersey

The decision to seek help is often made in a moment of clarity or crisis. Maplewood’s admissions process is designed to meet that moment with speed, compassion, and complete confidentiality. Our team handles everything so your family does not have to navigate the process alone.

1

Call or Contact Us Anytime

Our admissions team answers every call personally, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (856) 485-9814. No automated menus, no hold queues — a real person every time.

2

Free Clinical Assessment

A licensed clinician conducts a confidential assessment to understand the client’s history, presenting concerns, and level of care needs. If DBT is clinically indicated, this is identified and incorporated into the initial treatment plan.

3

Insurance Verification

We verify insurance benefits quickly and at no cost. Our team will explain coverage clearly before admission so there are no surprises.

4

Same-Day or Next-Day Admission

Many clients are admitted the same day they call. Our team coordinates transportation and all intake logistics so you can focus on your loved one, not the paperwork.

5

DBT-Informed Plan Within 72 Hours

A full biopsychosocial assessment is completed within the first three days of admission, and a DBT-informed individualized treatment plan is developed collaboratively with the client and their treatment team.

DBT Builds the Skills That Make Recovery Last

Call now for a confidential assessment. Our clinical team will determine whether DBT is the right fit and begin building a personalized plan immediately.

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What Our Clients Say

Real Results. Real Recovery.

4.8
Based on 30 Google Reviews
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Maura F.
4 reviews · 1 month ago

Maplewood Recovery is truly a place of healing and recovery. I came into Maplewood needing my life put back together. Just in my short stay being there I was opened to a new life of sobriety and solitude. I could not recommend this place enough to get the support and care that you need to get better. The staff along with the amenities are amazing and truly care for you.

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Norbert L.
7 reviews · 10 photos · 2 months ago

When I think of needed support; when I think of a place where I can go to gain sanctuary — I think of Maplewood Treatment Solutions. The people, the services, and the environment are all about mental and physical calmness. I highly recommend Maplewood Treatment Solutions for the moments of struggle.

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Meredith M.
4 reviews · 2 photos · 4 months ago

Amazing facility! Wonderful staff that actually care. The way they took care of my loved one and set them up with the tools necessary to succeed in recovery is unmatched. 10 out of 10.

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Seven P.
Local Guide · 20 reviews · 6 months ago

The clients are not just a number at Maplewood. They go above and beyond to make sure your treatment experience is the best.

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Jomarr R.
3 reviews · 6 months ago

Best place I have been to hands down. Love the staff members and the nurses took really good care of me.

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Robert M.
10 reviews · 6 months ago

I had the privilege of touring Maplewood Treatment Solutions, and from the moment I walked in I felt truly welcomed. The staff were warm, professional, and clearly passionate about the work they do. It was inspiring to see such a supportive environment dedicated to helping individuals on their recovery journey.

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Clinically Reviewed Content

Written and Reviewed by Licensed Clinicians

The clinical content on this page has been reviewed by members of Maplewood’s treatment team to ensure accuracy and alignment with evidence-based DBT standards. Visit our full editorial and clinical review team page for more information.

M

Reviewed by Marcus Joseph, LAMFT, LCADC

Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist · Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor · Maplewood Treatment Solutions Clinical Staff

DBT is one of the most powerful tools available for clients whose emotional dysregulation is driving their substance use. The information on this page reflects how we apply DBT within an individualized residential treatment framework, balancing acceptance-based strategies with targeted behavioral change.

E

Reviewed by Dr. Edward Pearson, MD, ABIHM

Medical Doctor · Board Certified in Integrative Holistic Medicine · Maplewood Treatment Solutions Medical Staff

The clinical evidence supporting DBT in substance use disorder treatment is robust and well-established. The information presented here is consistent with current SAMHSA guidelines and reflects an integrated approach that addresses both the neurological and psychological dimensions of addiction and emotional dysregulation.

Frequently Asked Questions

DBT for Addiction: Your Questions Answered

Families frequently have questions about how DBT treatment in New Jersey works, who it is designed for, and what to expect during a residential DBT program. Below are the questions our clinical and admissions teams hear most often.

While CBT focuses primarily on identifying and changing distorted thought patterns, dialectical behavior therapy for addiction adds a second equally important component: acceptance. DBT teaches clients to radically accept themselves and their current reality before trying to change it. This balance makes DBT uniquely effective for clients who feel stuck in shame, resistance, or hopelessness. DBT also includes four distinct skill modules, uses diary cards for ongoing tracking, and employs behavioral chain analysis to systematically address problem behaviors.
DBT was originally developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan to treat chronically suicidal individuals with borderline personality disorder. However, the core mechanisms of DBT — targeting emotional dysregulation, building distress tolerance, and improving interpersonal effectiveness — proved highly relevant to addiction treatment. DBT for substance use disorder (DBT-SUD) has been validated in multiple clinical trials. Research consistently shows that DBT reduces substance use, self-harm, and psychiatric hospitalization in clients with co-occurring emotional dysregulation and addiction.
A diary card is a daily self-monitoring tool that clients complete throughout DBT skills training. It tracks the intensity of emotions, urges to use substances, skill use, and distress levels. Diary cards ensure therapy remains targeted and data-driven. At Maplewood’s residential DBT program in NJ, diary card completion is a required part of every client’s individualized treatment plan.
Radical acceptance is a DBT distress tolerance skill that involves fully accepting reality as it is without fighting or judging it. In emotional regulation therapy for addiction, radical acceptance is transformative because many clients spend enormous energy fighting the reality of their addiction. When a client can accept their situation fully, they free up the energy needed to actually change it. Radical acceptance is often described as the moment when real recovery becomes possible.
TIPP stands for Temperature, Intense exercise, Paced breathing, and Progressive muscle relaxation. It is a DBT crisis survival skill that rapidly changes the brain’s physiological state to reduce the intensity of cravings. Cold temperature activates the mammalian dive reflex and slows heart rate within minutes. Intense brief exercise burns off adrenaline. Paced breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system. Together, TIPP skills create enough space for more thoughtful, DBT-informed decision-making before a craving leads to relapse.
Yes, and this is one of the settings where DBT treatment in New Jersey shines most. Many clients who have had multiple treatment episodes without lasting success share a common underlying factor: emotional dysregulation that was never directly addressed. Standard addiction treatment often focuses on the substance use itself, leaving the emotional pain and reactive behavior patterns untouched. DBT targets these underlying mechanisms directly and is often the breakthrough for clients who felt like nothing else had worked.
Yes. DBT and medication-assisted treatment are complementary and frequently used together at Maplewood. MAT addresses the neurological and physiological dimensions of addiction. DBT addiction treatment addresses the psychological, emotional, and behavioral dimensions. Research supports the combination, particularly for opioid use disorder and for clients with co-occurring psychiatric conditions. Treating co-occurring conditions alongside DBT skills training improves both engagement in therapy and overall treatment outcomes.
A behavioral chain analysis is a structured problem-solving tool used in individual DBT sessions. The therapist and client map every link in the chain of events, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that led to a problem behavior such as substance use. Then together they identify every point where a DBT skill could have interrupted the chain and develop a solution analysis with specific skills to practice. Chain analysis is not a punishment — it is a precise, compassionate tool for understanding and changing the patterns that drive destructive behavior.

Evidence-Based References

Sources and Clinical References

All clinical claims on this page are supported by peer-reviewed research, federal health agency guidelines, and established addiction medicine standards.

1
Linehan, M.M. (1993). Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder. New York, NY: Guilford Press.
2
Linehan, M.M., Schmidt, H., Dimeff, L.A., Craft, J.C., Kanter, J., & Comtois, K.A. (1999). Dialectical behavior therapy for patients with borderline personality disorder and drug-dependence. American Journal on Addictions, 8(4), 279-292.
3
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Dialectical Behavior Therapy. National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP). samhsa.gov
4
Dimeff, L.A., & Linehan, M.M. (2008). Dialectical behavior therapy for substance abusers. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 4(2), 39-47. doi:10.1151/ascp084239
5
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition). Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health. nida.nih.gov
6
Harned, M.S., Chapman, A.L., Dexter-Mazza, E.T., Murray, A., Comtois, K.A., & Linehan, M.M. (2008). Treating co-occurring Axis I disorders in recurrently suicidal women with borderline personality disorder. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76(6), 1068-1075.
7
American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). The ASAM Principles of Addiction Medicine (6th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer. asam.org

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Maplewood Treatment Solutions

214 W Maple Ave, Merchantville, NJ 08109
(856) 485-9814
Admissions Available 24/7

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