DBT- who's doing it & who wants to do it?

I've recently been given the 'go ahead' by one of my shrinks to do some self therapy in my DBT skills workbook, so I was wondering who else is doing DBT (in clincal or self treatment) or who'd like to do it via the forum here so we can work on it together?

If you're doing DBT I'd like to hear your experiences with it.
If you'd like to work on the workbook with me, please let me know and I'll try to make some posts with the DBT skills and techniques provided.

Thanks
~Alice

I do DBT group once a week. It might be nice to have another source to turn to during the rest of the week. It’s not always easy remembering or practicing the skills when you’re at work or home.

I may join one this summer

My therapist co-runs a group through a public MH facility. I recently completed:
1 Overview
2.1 Mindfulness
2.1.1 Skills within the Mindfulness module
2.1.1.1 The "What" Skills
2.1.1.2 The "How" Skills
2.3 Emotion Regulation
2.3.1 Skills within the Emotion regulation module

I attended all 12 sessions and found it good. This was my first exposure to group therapy and DBT.
Unfortunately , due to my lack of focus, easy distractability , I was not always 'mindful" during the sessions.
Mindfulness and focus and adequate time is essential for the homework.

I will begin the next 12 week block next week an dplan to be more attentive:
2.4 Interpersonal Effectiveness
2.4.1 Skills within the Interpersonal effectiveness module

Then I may or may not do the module they had already completed:
2.2 Distress Tolerance
2.2.1 Skills within the Distress tolerance module

Also, take advantage of the phone support as needed. I was reluctant, when i needed it to prevent 'offing' someone I was in a relationship with. Could have/should have utilized the support.

I would be willing to review and work together here.

I have been through DBT twice now....although it's not the official stuff by Linehan, just something my local MHT put together based on her stuff. It's loosely based on a DBT skills workbook which I used to have a copy of but now can't find for love nor money...... not that I have any love or any money

But I am more than happy to help out where I can (if I can). For me, I think it's important to work on distress tolerance skills first. Once you have some new coping mechanisms under your belt, it's then easier to do the harder work of emotion regulation which is hard going but really, REALLY useful. Mindfullness I can pretty much take or leave - but it's helpful for a lot of people with anxiety, I know. Interpersonal skills I just don't like at all because role play in the "safe" group therapy is nothing like the "unsafe" world outside where emotions get triggered. I know the skills; I know how to ask for what I want, how to say no, how to phrase something assertively...I know it all yet I can do none of it in "real life" because my emotions get in the way! I can do it perfectly in the group...very annoying but I can't see any way around that. With my black & white thinking, anything that is said or done in the group is not "real", however much the group leaders pretend it is. It's a fake situation and all I am doing is following a script - there's no emotional impetus behind it.

Anyway - that's my view on DBT. SO if someone wants to start up an online group, I'm more than willing to help out where I can.

That's Great!

I'm glad this is somehting others are looking to work on too
I have the DBT skils Workbook and I'd be more than happy to prepare some material for us to work on here together

It would be probably be best to work on chapter one frist- right?

Lemme see what I scan in on my computer and let's get started!
I'm Excited for this!!!

Thanks for sharing this with me everyone- I gotta admit as much as my shrink said I could do this on my own, I was a bit scared to do it by myself- so thank you!!!!

~Alice

No probs Alice. It's actually better to work as a group because you can see other peoples reactions to the exercises and get different perspectives on problems/common difficulties.

I just wish I could find my copy!!

I just started doing a DBT workbook solo because I won't be able to afford the actual therapy course for a while. I'd be interested in what someone who has done both DBT-with-therapist and workbook-by-yourself has to say about the differences. I assume you get more out of working with a therapist and/or group.

I'm very optimistic about DBT because whenever I read about the different practices and techniques in different contexts, before finding out about BPD, I realized instantly that they were things that would benefit me. (I've gone through sporadic bouts trying meditation ever since a college class on Zen years ago.) The problem is, I have such a hard time keeping any kind of structure in my life that I usually only wind up working on the book 2 or 3 days a week.

OK:

I'm not sure where everyone is their healing, and coping mechanisms but I've added a DBT Topic One Post here:
borderline-personality/topic64614.html

For those (how like me) who are in the begining stages of DBT and need to get their support stratagies in order before rushing into the dealing with emotions. A local psychologyst here in Tornoto, told me his methods of DBT (in general) and said that he starts with suicidal prep and coping FIRST, to make sure there is a tangible action plan in cases of distress later on.

If you DO have a suicide prevention plan or have learned techiques that could benefit others, please contribute them to the post provided.

If you DO NOT have a suicide prevention plan and/or crisis plan in place, please take a moment (I'll not move into the next topic until this time next week so no one is left without their plan) to download, read, and fill in the worksheets provided in the post.

I know from my own experiences in self descovery, it can at times get overwhelming and emotionally baren- as disordered persons it is in moments like these we are at our weakest and most frigile. It may seem silly to do these sheets and make prevention plans now, but when you hit that place you know we get to from to time, these are the tools you will use to help you out and keep you afloat until the sun shines again.

Peace to all & again, thank you for doing this with me.
I'll be working on my own written plans tomorrow.
Gnite
~Alice