How DBT Helps Men Heal from Trauma in Addiction Recovery
Men with trauma. More common than you’d think and often reluctant to talk about it. When it comes to addiction treatment and recovery, it’s the elephant in the room. A lot of men who struggle with substance abuse have some form of deep-rooted pain - things they’d prefer to bury. But our secrets keep us sick and avoiding issues just makes them worse. That’s the beauty of dialectical behavior therapy. DBT helps men do what might seem impossible—heal.
The Link Between Trauma & Addiction
It may not be surprising to learn that people who experience traumatic events have a higher likelihood of developing a substance use disorder. Traumatic experiences have a profound effect on the functioning of the brain. They heighten stress responses, increase impulsivity, and create a sense of emotional numbness—something that substances temporarily “fix.”
American culture has traditionally encouraged men to "tough it out.” Showing emotion or asking for help was considered weak. The result? The development of unhealthy coping mechanisms, including addiction. DBT offers an alternative: structured, effective tools for facing emotions head-on instead of running from them.
DBT in Addiction Treatment: What It Looks Like
At its core, DBT is about balance—accepting reality while working toward change. This balance runs parallel to the ideas of addiction recovery.
Radical Acceptance: Facing the Past Without Resistance
One of the foundational concepts in DBT is radical acceptance—fully acknowledging reality instead of resisting it. Serenity Park clinician Ava Titsworth puts it simply: "Radical acceptance is crucial in healing trauma—accepting what happened instead of resisting it."
This doesn’t mean approving of the past. It means letting go of the energy spent wishing it were different. When men in recovery stop resisting their trauma, they can finally start to heal.
Processing Trauma Through a 12-Step Lens
Many addiction treatment programs incorporate both DBT and the 12 Steps. Why? Because together, they create a framework for processing trauma with self-compassion.
"We incorporate trauma-informed approaches with the 12 Steps," says Ava Titsworth. This means men in treatment are not just working through their addiction—they’re also working through the experiences that led them there.
One way this happens is through Trauma & the 12 Steps, a book used in many recovery programs. "We use a book called Trauma & the 12 Steps to help clients process their past," Ava explains. This book helps men see their addiction journey through a new lens—one that acknowledges both personal responsibility and the impact of past wounds.
Emotional Regulation: Learning to Work With Emotions Instead of Against Them
For many men, emotions feel like enemies. But DBT teaches that emotions aren’t the problem; avoidance is.
As Ava Titsworth puts it: "Healing happens when we stop avoiding our emotions and start working with them."
DBT helps men develop the skills to sit with uncomfortable feelings instead of running from them. Through mindfulness and distress tolerance techniques, they learn that emotions are temporary, manageable, and—most importantly—not dangerous.
Reframing the Past with Self-Compassion
One of the biggest barriers to healing from trauma is shame. Many men in recovery blame themselves for their past mistakes, relationships, and struggles. But DBT and the 12 Steps work together to shift that perspective.
"The 12 Steps help reframe past experiences with self-compassion," Ava shares. Instead of seeing themselves as failures, men in recovery learn to see their past as part of their growth. They take accountability, yes—but they also learn to forgive themselves.
The Path to Healing Starts Now
If you’re a man considering addiction treatment, know this: recovery is possible. Trauma doesn’t have to define you. You don’t have to do it alone. Healing is a journey, but it’s one you don’t have to walk by yourself. The first step? Saying yes to the help that’s waiting for you.
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