DBT workbook and RTs

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a form of therapy that was created by Marshal Linehan as a treatment intervention for people with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). It is not being used as a treatment intervention for people with various other mental health needs as well.

 It has four main concepts of DBT:

·         Mindfulness skills

·         Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills

·         Emotional Regulation Skills; and

·         Distress Tolerance Skills

I really think Recreational Therapists who work in mental health settings should have some understanding of this psychotherapy technique. We, in RT, can contribute to this approach with the right training and understanding.

In example, many RTs teach stress management and relaxation skills, which would coincide with DBT: Distress Tolerance Skills. Did you know that DBT practitioners teach the use of activities as a health distraction to cope with distress?

Some RTs teach social skills, which would overlap with interpersonal effectiveness skills (which I simply call “people skills.”) It is the ability to get along well with others in the community. We, RTs provide a lot of community re-integration activities and social group sessions.

Here is a neat e-book with DBT skills activities. I would recommend that RTs have taken some type of basic training in DBT skills prior to using this e-book.

 http://www.bipolarsjuk.se/pdf/Handbook%20in%20DBT%20Group.pdf