DBT for Dummies - Paperback

by Gillian Galen (Author), Blaise Aguirre (Author)

Keep calm, be skillful--and take control!

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is one of the most popular--and most effective--treatments for mental health conditions that result from out-of-control emotions. Combining elements of Cognitive Behavior Therapy with Eastern mindfulness practice, DBT was initially used as a powerful treatment to address the suffering associated with borderline personality disorder. It has since proven to have positive effects on many other mental health conditions and is frequently found in non-clinical settings, such as schools. Whether you struggle with depression, anger, phobias, disordered eating, or want to have a better understanding of emotions and how to focus and calm your mind, DBT practice serves the needs of those facing anything from regular life challenges to severe psychological distress.

Written in a no-jargon, friendly style by two of Harvard Medical School's finest, DBT For Dummies shows how DBT can teach new ways not just to reverse, but to actively take control of self-destructive behaviors and negative thought patterns, allowing you to transform a life of struggle into one full of promise and meaning. Used properly and persistently, the skills and strategies in this book will change your life: when you can better regulate emotions, interact effectively with people, deal with stressful situations, and use mindfulness on a daily basis, it's easier to appreciate what's good in yourself and the world, and then act accordingly. In reading this book, you will:

• Understand DBT theory
• Learn more adaptive ways to control your emotions
• Improve the quality of your relationships
• Deal better with uncertainty

Many of life's problems are not insurmountable even if they appear to be. Life can get better, if you are willing to live it differently. Get DBT For Dummies and discover the proven methods that will let you take back control--and build a brighter, more capable, and promising future!

Back Jacket

• Use DBT to manage overwhelming emotions
• Discover the power of mindfulness in everyday life
• Transform relationships with the magic of validation

DBT can help you improve your life

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based therapy that combines elements of cognitive and behavioral therapies with mindfulness and acceptance strategies to help people who struggle with unstable and rapidly changing emotions, negative thinking patterns, and harmful behavior. This guide makes DBT easy to understand, teaching you the skills to manage painful emotions, stressful situations, and stormy relationships. The authors, who are DBT experts, offer creative ideas, treatment plans, and strategies that make this therapy accessible for anyone seeking to manage emotional suffering, depression, phobias, stress, anxiety, and more.

Inside...

• Understand DBT and learn how to apply it
• Discover healthier ways to manage your emotions
• Enhance the quality of your relationships
• Explore ways to practice mindfulness
• Improve your ability to tolerate distress

Author Biography

Gillian Galen, PsyD, is an instructor of psychology at Harvard Medical School and the Program Director of the 3East Girls Residential DBT Treatment Program at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts.

Blaise Aguirre, MD, is the Medical Director of 3East, a DBT continuum of care at McLean Hospital in Belmont Massachusetts, and a trainer in dialectical behavior therapy.