Posted by chdurie2 on August 31, 2000, at 13:24:44
hi- does anyone here know about or have any experience with dialectical behavioral therapy? I went for a consultation with another psyciatrist, and she suggested to my psychiatrist that dialectical behavioral therapy might be good for me because therapy in my life has failed, in part, because it is not structured and i seem to run around in circles a lot and then drown in my own gook. The consultative psychiatrist thought this would be more structured and directive. But my own psychiatrist doesn't know what it is and is going to check it out. I checked it out on the internet yesterday, and found out it it is used mainly for borderline-personality disorder, and sometimes for eating disorders and impulse control, none of which I have been diagnosed with. One place uses it for acquired brain disorders, which I have, but they are definitely in the minority. I have been diagnosed with major depression, adult ADD, and OCD. However, as I have read borderline personality disorder descriptions, they do strike a chord. A lot of what is included in dialectical behavioral therapy makes sense for me - it seems very skills oriented, very strategic, which I need. But what I don't get, and I don't think even the writers get, except in an intellectual sense, is the "dialectical" part. The idea is, I think, the patient says white, then is told to say black, then to come up with a mid-point so that she sees that truth is an emerging concept, an evolving reality, not an absolute. Another writer said the patient discusses anger, i.e., then sadness, then back to anger so that the patient gets this truth as evolving reality business. As a 48-year-old, once Honors philosophy major in college, this makes intellectual sense? but how does it relate to dealing better with one's problems? about a year ago, incidentally, my shrink referred me to a dialectical psychologist just cuz another patient liked her, but this psych couldn't even begin to explain dialectical to me, other than saying it was sort of Zen-like. I figured if she couldn't explain it, how could she call herself one? also, the major proof of efficacy is the decrease in suicide attempts vs. control groups. I've never tried to commit suicide, so, maybe i'm wrong, but this doesn't mean much to me. other aspects of the program (strategic, skills approach) interest me, as I said.
Does anyone here know anything about this, or had experiences with it, good or bad?
Also does anyone know of any other strategic, skills approach-therapy other than AA-type groups and good ole cognitive behavior therapy.
My downfall in therapy is that, for me, insight does not necessarily lead to change. I can know, I can understand, I can be aware of, but what's missing is skill, strategies. For example, it's nice to say i have a poor self-image; I can list 47 ways I manifest that. But how do I change? Some I'm learning, like congratulate and approve of myself, but I'd like to learn more. Anyone have any thoughts?
Thanks everyone. Caroline
poster:chdurie2
thread:357
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20000813/msgs/357.html