What is Radically-Open Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (RO-DBT)?
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RO-DBT is a new treatment that targets a range of different behavioural, emotional, and interpersonal patterns that are characterized by excessive self-control, also called "over-control". While having some "self-control" is helpful, it can be possible to have "too much of a good thing".
How is it possible to have "too much" self-control?
People that are "over-controlled" tend to be perfectionistic, often value productivity at the expense of leisure activities or relationships, have difficulty openly expressing emotions, and have difficulty being flexible. While many of these traits can be helpful in "getting a job done", the same traits can often interfere in forming and maintaining interpersonal relationships and can cause difficulty with work-life balance. For example, over-controlled individuals tend to struggle to connect with others in a way that is openly expressive and genuine, which can lead to feeling a core sense of loneliness and disconnection from others.
Having an over-controlled style of coping can potentially make it more likely that someone may develop certain clinical problems such as chronic depression, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa (restrictive sub-type), and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.
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RO-DBT is based on the principle that psychological health involves three overlapping traits:
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1) Receptivity and Openness to the environment and conflicting feedback from others to facilitate learning.
2) Flexible-Control to effectively adapt to situational and environmental changes.
3) Intimacy and Social-Connectedness based on the understanding that the ability to work effectively in groups and form bonds with others has been essential to human survival and continues to be essential for our success and well-being.
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How is RO-DBT different to traditional DBT and other therapies?
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Traditional DBT aims to help individuals better regulate their emotions, decrease impulsive behaviours, gain greater ability to tolerate distressing emotions, and communicate more effectively. In other words, DBT seeks to help individuals gain greater control over their emotions and behaviours. In contrast, because RO-DBT is aimed at individuals who have too much self-control, the goal is actually to "reduce" self-control in the sense that an individual can be more open and expressive in their interpersonal relationships, make time for leisure activities and friendships, reduce perfectionistic standards, flexibly adapt to changing situations and environmental demands to "go with the flow" a little more, and be able to show more of themselves to others to facilitate social connection and intimacy.
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Who is RO-DBT helpful for?
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Research suggests that RO-DBT is an effective treatment for chronic depression and restrictive eating disorders. Research studies also suggest that RO-DBT may be helpful for obsessive-compulsive personality traits and maladaptive perfectionism.
Given that one of the primary goals in RO-DBT is to develop and improve social relationships and reduce loneliness, people struggling to connect and build relationships with others may benefit from RO-DBT. If you struggle to connect with people and are interested in learning whether RO-DBT could be a suitable approach for you then please get in touch!
You can also read more about RO-DBT from the treatment developer here:
https://www.radicallyopen.net/what-is-ro-dbt-and-who-is-it-for.html