Suicidal thoughts are often a topic not many want to delve into discussing. I think it’s important we do so and make sense of some of them. Suicidal behavior tends to come in a spectrum of forms, maybe you’ve heard of some of them? Active thoughts, passive thoughts, thoughts of planning, suicidal feelings, suicidal gestures, … Read more
Each type of therapy has its way of viewing the people it’s designed to treat. DBT therapists who practice adherently are trained to make certain assumptions about all of their clients. One of the most important things to remember about assumptions is that they are not facts. Assumptions, by their definition, are beliefs someone accepts … Read more
Dr. Marsha Linehan, the creator of DBT, explains there many infinite painful and distressing events which occur in our lives, and yet there are a limited number of responses available to us. She categorized these responses into four groups. I present these options to clients (and myself) when there are difficulties moving forward on a … Read more
Most of us have heard of seasonal depression and we tend to associate it with winter time. Less commonly talked about, yet just as serious, there are some of us who experience depression during the summer time. People do have less intense versions of this, and you may have heard of the “summertime blues.” Summertime … Read more
“Shame is the warm feeling that warm feeling washing over us, making us feel small, flawed, and never good enough” -Brené Brown The physical experience of shame includes hot flushing, the strong urge to hide and put your head down, and difficulty speaking. Shame brings on self-critical thoughts such as “who do you think you … Read more
It is no secret that humans have an innate need for love, belonging, and relationships. The extent to which individuals are successful in developing these things however varies depending on a host of factors (e.g., social involvement, personality, etc.). One of the most prominent factors that serves as a vessel for fostering and also deterring … Read more
Sometimes, love stinks. Maybe you discovered something about the person you’ve been dating that you really cannot live with. Or maybe things have really changed for the worse since the two of you moved in together. Perhaps you’re head-over-heels in love with a person you just met and struggle to take it slow. Regardless of … Read more
And…breathe out Is it just me or does it seem like there is more and more to do every day? It is like a perpetual conveyer belt of tasks! When I’m not able to find ‘off switch’ to that conveyer belt at the end of the day and begin to relax and wind down, I … Read more
I absolutely love DBT’s emphasis on balance. We need balance in nearly everything we do. Balance improves our conversations, when we alternate between listening and talking. Balance allows us to walk, dance, and play our favorite sports, and balance helps us make effective decisions about our finances, relationships, and leisure time. Finding balance in any … Read more
Depression looks like a lot of different things for a lot of different people. Sometimes it can look like staying in bed and not showering for a week. Other times, depression manifests as constant and intense self-criticism. And other times it looks like being incredibly irritable. Sometimes it’s all of the above. Whatever form depression … Read more