RO DBT Classes have begun!
We are thrilled to have begun our RO DBT Group (we call this a ‘class’) in collaboration with Treat Yourself Well. The first class was held on Tuesday, 19th October. Weekly classes are held every Tuesday at 6:30pm for an hour and a half. Subject to the capacity of the group and your suitability for RO DBT, currently you can join the class at basically any time. (Please note that there might be occasions when it is suggested you wait for a week or two depending on the theme of the class.) The classes are hosted by two experienced therapists – Hiro from BodyMatters and Gavin from Treat Yourself Well.
The Difference between RO DBT vs ‘regular’ DBT
You might have heard of Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), which is the foundation of Radically Open-Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (RO DBT). Whilst DBT was developed to treat clients who have problems due to what is considered to be an “under-controlled” style- for example, being dramatic or erratic, RO DBT is for clients who more of an “over-controlled style”- such as being emotionally constricted and/or risk-averse personality styles). Whilst both treatments use behavioural principles and a dialectical philosophy, the treatment target differs. Specifically, DBT focuses on emotion regulation skills, improving behavioural control, and distress tolerance, whereas RO DBT primarily focuses on social-signaling, openness and social connectedness skills.
Who benefits from RO DBT?
RO DBT is beneficial for people who are feeling socially isolated and/or struggling to emotionally connect with others, due to an over-controlling style of coping and an excessive desire to achieve perfection. Research suggests RO DBT is effective for treating those over-controlling symptoms in many diagnoses including chronic depression, treatment-resistant anxiety disorders, anorexia nervosa, autism spectrum disorders and personality disorders such as obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.
What attending the class will be like?
We want everyone to feel welcomed to the ‘tribe’, hence we encourage participants to share their thoughts and opinions, but this is never forced. Our classes start with mindfulness practice, then moves to reviewing homework from the previous session, learning new skills of the week, and ends with introduction of new homework. The classes are held via Zoom. We usually recommend participants also attend individual therapy, particularly with a therapist who is RO DBT trained or informed.
For more information, please contact info@bodymatters.com.au, visit our website or RO DBT blog.
Next step?
Please contact BodyMatters to arrange RO DBT assessment sessions to determine your suitability.
References
Lynch, T. R. (2018). Radically open dialectical behavior therapy: Theory and practice for treating disorders of overcontrol. New Harbinger Publications.
Linehan, M. (1993). Skills training manual for treating borderline personality disorder (Vol. 29). New York: Guilford press.
Home. Radically Open. (n.d.). Retrieved November 1, 2021, from https://www.radicallyopen.net/blog/.