Started Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) today. It was basically an introduction to what it is all about. I am looking forward to getting this going and improving my life and life skills.
Here is a brief overview of what DBT is:
There are 3 stages of treatment. Before the 3 stages is Pre-Treatment, which is orientation and commitment. I did that today.
Stage 1: Attain basic capacities
Eliminate:
- Suicidal and parasuicidal behaviors
- Therapy interfering behaviors
- Major quality of life interfering behaviors
Increase:
4. Behavioral skills
- Mindfulness
- Interpersonal effectiveness
- Emotion regulation
- Distress tolerance
Stage 2: Reduce Post Traumatic Stress
Stage 3: Increase self respect and achieve goals
The modes of treatment are:
- Individual therapy…………. 1hr/week
- Group skills training………. 2hrs/week
- Phone coaching ………………as needed
- Therapist consultation…….. weekly
Right now I am doing individual therapy. I am on the list to start Group Skills training late February early March. The Group Skills training is once a week for 15 weeks. Seems pretty intense. I usually don’t finish things I start, so this will be a slight challenge that I am ready to take on. I usually don’t finish things, either because I get bored or aggravated, so we’ll see how it goes.
I did DBT for an entire year and, much as I hated it at the start, it really did help. I still have issues from time to time but overall I’d have to say it made a huge difference in how I deal with my illnesses. Good luck to you!
Thank you!
I am not liking it much right now. Feeling overwhelmed. But I am going to stick with it for now. Thank you!
Wishing you good luck and great success!
Thanks!!
Sounds great Bekr! I might try it. Good luck!:)
I’m a complete DBT convert. After 30 years of a wide variety of therapies for my Bipolar Disorder and Depression, DBT is the first thing I’ve found to even begin to break through the horrible feelings and painful experiences. The Mindfulness has been the most powerful for me so far, but I do the homework on everything else equally as diligently. It’s a LOT of new information for me, but I’m working hard to not be angry at myself for not learning this sooner (no judgment!!) and not judging whether I can even remember WHAT DBT is, just doing it.
I highly recommend the DBT Diary and the DBT Skills Workbook. They are both amazingly helpful. I also have the DBT Skills Workbook for Bipolar Disorder and you’d think there’d be repeating info, but it really is geared towards BD and adds so much for my learning.
I’m a Never-Finish-Anything-I-Start kinda gal, too, but this has bitten me like a new lover; I can’t get enough! (I even found your blog post!)
Keep your mind open, even when it seems like there’s no way in the world this could work. The science behind the brain changes proves otherwise.
Much good luck and I’ll be checking to see how you’re doing!
Thank you for the tips! I have tried everything, so I am very open minded to anything, and it looks like this will be the key I have been looking for.