Radically Open Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (RO DBT)

RO DBT is a new evidence-based treatment for patients with emotional over-control. ‘Self-control’ is usually seen as a good thing, however too much self-control can cause difficulties. Excessive self-control is associated with social isolation and poor interpersonal relations and it contributes to conditions like anorexia nervosa, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, chronic depression and autistic spectrum disorders.

Over- control is seen as a problem of emotional loneliness - not necessarily lacking contact with others…...but lack of social connectedness with others.

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Humans are social beings and the 3 core components of emotional well-being are:

1. Openness to feedback, even when this is challenging

2. Flexibility in responses, to ever changing demands

3. Communicating emotions, recognizing that expressing emotion is crucial when forming close interpersonal bonds