Tag Archives: Dialectical Behavior Therapy
← Older postsBiological factors, physical well-being, and emotional vulnerability
One of the DBT skills for regulating emotions is to make yourself less prone to negative emotions by taking care of biological factors. This is because biological factors influence mood! How would your emotions change if you were doing everything … Continue reading
Should you change your behavior or change your beliefs? A closer look at self-compassion.
Social psychology research indicates that it is easier to change behavior than it is to change attitudes or beliefs. Part of what characterizes third wave behavior therapies (such as DBT) is behavioral activation. In other words, there is a focus … Continue reading
Parenting the adolescent, DBT, and dialectical dilemmas: From Miller, Rathus, and Linehan
In 2007, Alec Miller, Jill Rathus, and Marsha Linehan published Dialectical Behavior Therapy with Suicidal Adolescents. In the book, they outline specific dilemmas related to adolescent development. I think their work is quite clever and clearly fits the dialectical theme: … Continue reading
Improvements in behavior
DBT skills groups are often structured so that clients in the groups do homework for week to week. The homework assignments might include ways of problem-solving emotions, finding ways of being attentive or mindful when in distress, or effectively approaching … Continue reading
Boston traffic and jammed T stops: How to practice willingness
Often, when we don’t want something to be the way it is, we fight our way through it. We complain loudly, we tense up, we try to do it quickly in order to get it over with, or we avoid … Continue reading
Are clients with Borderline Personality Disorder too needy? Follow up thoughts from attending the NEA BPD conference.
This past week I attended a conference hosted by the National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder. Dr. Alan Fruzetti presented on Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Dr. Anothony Bateman presented on Mentalization Based Treatment (an alternative treatment for BPD). Then … Continue reading
DBT: How emotion impacts thinking, self, and relationships
One of the theories behind DBT is that emotions interfere with other aspects of functioning. If emotional arousal is high it has the capacity to interfere with thinking, experience of self, actions, and relationships. This may be especially true for … Continue reading
When comparisons are helpful
One of the ways in which people get through distressing situations- or at least one of the suggested DBT skills- is to compare oneself with others in worse situations. I think the use of comparisons can be a bit tricky. … Continue reading
Book Review: The High Conflict Couple by Alan Fruzetti
Are you looking for a book that gives the lay person’s guide to understanding the nuts and bolts of DBT? I love Alan Fruzetti’s book, The High Conflict Couple. I often encourage my clients to read parts of it because … Continue reading
An interview: Cartoon elephants
Last week I was interviewed by Christy Matta on Psych Central: http://bit.ly/98hCbI