Firstly, What is DBT, or Dialectical Behaviour Therapy?

DBT stands for Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, which is a type of cognitive-behavioural therapy that was developed by Dr Marsha Linehan. DBT was originally developed at the University of Washington to treat individuals who were suicidal and had borderline personality disorder (BPD). It also helps people experiencing other mental health conditions that are characterised by difficulties in regulating emotions and behaviours. DBT is based on the idea that some people are more prone to intense emotional reactions and may have difficulty managing them. DBT focuses on teaching skills to cope with distressing emotions, improve interpersonal relationships, and build a life worth living. DBT is much more than being taught a bunch of skills in order to cope, however; DBT is a complex psychological therapy with over 140 various strategies that trained DBT therapists use with dedicated precision to help improve lives.

The key components of DBT include:

• Mindfulness: This involves learning to be fully present in the moment, observing and describing experiences without judgment. Mindfulness skills help individuals become more aware of their thoughts, feelings, and sensations, which can aid in emotion regulation.
• Distress Tolerance: These skills help individuals tolerate distressing emotions without engaging in harmful behaviors. Techniques may include distraction, self-soothing, and radical acceptance.
• Emotion Regulation: These skills help individuals identify and understand their emotions, as well as learn strategies to manage and modulate them effectively. Techniques may include identifying emotional triggers, increasing positive emotional experiences, and reducing vulnerability to negative emotions.
• Interpersonal Effectiveness: These skills focus on improving communication and interpersonal relationships. Techniques may include assertiveness training, setting boundaries, and navigating conflict.

DBT is typically delivered in both individual therapy sessions and group skills training sessions, with phone coaching available to help generalise skills. The therapy is structured, goal-oriented, and often involves homework assignments to practice skills learned in therapy sessions. DBT therapists also participate in regular Supervision and DBT Consultation Team meetings, which provide therapy-for-the-therapist because DBT therapists cannot do adherent and effective therapy alone.

DBT has been adopted in a variety of outpatient settings to effectively treat those with anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, major depression, substance dependence, bipolar disorder, and eating disorders. DBT has also been used to effectively treat children, adolescents and university students, couples and families, and the elderly. It has been adapted for inpatient, residential, forensic, community mental health, school, and college settings.

DBT-Prolonged Exposure (DBT-PE) adds an evidenced-based prolonged exposure treatment protocol to standard DBT for treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Additionally, DBT-Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (DBT-PTSD) has been developed as an individual therapy for sexual abuse that addresses traumatic memory processing, self-concept, and social interaction.

More recently, DBT has been developed for autism, which focuses on applying DBT skills in a neuro-affirming way, with skills application uniquely adapted according to a person’s neurotype. Multi-Diagnostic Eating Disorder DBT (MED-DBT) has also been recently developed as a promising alternative treatment for complex eating disorders.

YouTube: How did Marsha Linehan come to develop DBT?

YouTube: What is Mindfulness in DBT?

YouTube: What is Interpersonal Effectiveness in DBT?

YouTube: What is Emotion Regulation in DBT?

YouTube: Why are Distress Tolerance Skills necessary in DBT?

YouTube: What are Distress Tolerance Skills in DBT?

YouTube: What is the value of Distraction?

YouTube: Who are Distress Tolerance Skills for in DBT?

YouTube: How did Marsha Linehan learn Radical Acceptance?

---

Secondly, What is Radically Open DBT or RO-DBT?

RO-DBT stands for Radically Open Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, which is a specialised form of DBT that focuses on addressing over-controlled personality styles and disorders. While traditional DBT primarily targets individuals with under-controlled emotional dysregulation (such as those with borderline personality disorder), RO-DBT is designed for individuals who struggle with excessive self-control and emotional inhibition.

Key features of RO-DBT include:

• Emphasis on Social Connectedness: RO-DBT places a strong emphasis on the importance of social connection and belonging. It helps individuals with overcontrolled traits learn to build and maintain meaningful relationships.
• Targeting Inflexibility and Rigidity: RO-DBT addresses the tendency toward perfectionism, rigidity, and overcontrol. It teaches individuals to be more flexible in their thinking and behavior, allowing for spontaneity and openness to new experiences.
• Use of Skills to Increase Openness: Similar to traditional DBT, RO-DBT teaches a range of skills to help individuals regulate emotions and improve interpersonal effectiveness. However, the focus is on using these skills to increase emotional expression and openness rather than reducing emotional intensity.
• Mindfulness and Self-Compassion: RO-DBT incorporates mindfulness and self-compassion practices to help individuals become more aware of their internal experiences and cultivate a nonjudgmental attitude toward themselves.

RO-DBT is typically delivered in a structured format, including individual therapy sessions, skills training groups, and homework assignments. It may be particularly beneficial for individuals with conditions such as chronic depression, anorexia nervosa, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, and avoidant personality disorder, among others, who exhibit traits of over-control.

Overall, RO-DBT offers a unique approach to addressing issues related to emotional regulation and interpersonal functioning in individuals with over-controlled personality styles, complementing the more traditional DBT approach used for those with under-controlled traits.

YouTube: What is Radically Open DBT (RO-DBT)?