A few years ago I was introduced to Dialectical Behavior Therapy. DBT is not just a set of skills or terms but rather, a way of thinking about the world and how people can be assisted by the therapist using both skills and structure of sessions to promote a life worth living.
Resolving trauma while learning a few real-life skills can make a huge impact for those that suffering with emotional intensity problems. The cool thing is -- the skills and learning a new thinking behind them can help those with a variety of problems, not just Borderline Personality Disorder. I have seen the similarities with DBT to various models treating anxiety, addiction, and depression (to name a few). The specific skills taught can help just about anyone wanting to live a better life.
Dialectical (to me anyway) really means that nothing is right, wrong, good, or bad. Usually ALL things have some truth to them and have served purposes in our lives just for survival. We have to learn to think in these terms and find a greater meaning to them. There's a higher "synthesis" with a situation and meaning behind all things. When we can withhold judgement and truly accept what is and validate all sides of the equation we are afforded the opportunity to find meaning.
The founder of DBT posted an article a few years ago outlining why she created the model and how she actually suffered herself from the same things the client she was working with were facing. Read that article here:
Expert on Mental Illness Reveals Her Own Fight
This was totally inspiring to me - here is this brilliant, strong woman who is a leader in the field exposing the rational underneath her model. No wonder why it's so powerful. Dr. Linehan's courage to write her own narrative, at her own pace, and in her own words is a powerful lesson. To be strong doesn't mean you can't be vulnerable. To be courageous doesn't mean having all the answers. To be brave is not without struggle.
I'll be posting a few different blogs on some of the DBT skills that have produced a great impact on their lives in the next few weeks. Some philosophy behind the model in addition to the skills will be discussed as well.
Click here to see Linehan's company/practice.
Jill
Resolving trauma while learning a few real-life skills can make a huge impact for those that suffering with emotional intensity problems. The cool thing is -- the skills and learning a new thinking behind them can help those with a variety of problems, not just Borderline Personality Disorder. I have seen the similarities with DBT to various models treating anxiety, addiction, and depression (to name a few). The specific skills taught can help just about anyone wanting to live a better life.
Dialectical (to me anyway) really means that nothing is right, wrong, good, or bad. Usually ALL things have some truth to them and have served purposes in our lives just for survival. We have to learn to think in these terms and find a greater meaning to them. There's a higher "synthesis" with a situation and meaning behind all things. When we can withhold judgement and truly accept what is and validate all sides of the equation we are afforded the opportunity to find meaning.
The founder of DBT posted an article a few years ago outlining why she created the model and how she actually suffered herself from the same things the client she was working with were facing. Read that article here:
Expert on Mental Illness Reveals Her Own Fight
This was totally inspiring to me - here is this brilliant, strong woman who is a leader in the field exposing the rational underneath her model. No wonder why it's so powerful. Dr. Linehan's courage to write her own narrative, at her own pace, and in her own words is a powerful lesson. To be strong doesn't mean you can't be vulnerable. To be courageous doesn't mean having all the answers. To be brave is not without struggle.
I'll be posting a few different blogs on some of the DBT skills that have produced a great impact on their lives in the next few weeks. Some philosophy behind the model in addition to the skills will be discussed as well.
Click here to see Linehan's company/practice.
Jill
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