DBT Course Flashcards
DBT is a stronger therapy for which kind of clients?
BPD; complex clients with emotion regulation; suicidal
DBT is not as strong for which kind of clients?
Less complex, just bipolar, just substance use, just depression.
How is DBT like a shotgun?
For someone with a less complex presentation, like ‘just depression’ or ‘just bipolar’ DBT would be like using a shotgun where an arrow would be sufficient.
What are the four treatment components of DBT?
1) Individual therapy
2) Group skills training
3) Telephone consultation
4) Consultation team
What are the two main functions of individual therapy in DBT?
1) Improvements in motivation and generalization; solve life problems; build life worth living 2) structure the environment
What is meant by ‘generalization’ in DBT?
The ability to transfer skills learned in therapy to everyday life.
What is meant by ‘structure the environment’ in DBT?
Figuring out how to structure client’s environment to support the change they want to make?
Within the DBT framework, how do we see ‘client resistance’?
Due to great suffering. It can be just as uncomfortable to get out of it as to stay in it.
What is an analogy that captures how a DBT client is faced with a choice between the suffering of their condition vs the suffering of trying to get out of it?
They are in a burning pit of fire, and the only way out is an aluminum ladder that will hurt them on the way up.
What is the format of DBT group skills training, and what 4 key skills it it trying to increase?
It is a class format (rather than therapy). It is trying to increase mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.
What is the function of the telephone consultation in DBT?
To generalize skills to everyday life.
What is the function of the consultation team in DBT?
To support and improve therapist motivation and capability to help complex clients.
What is a possible negative experience of a focus on change for clients?
It can feel invalidating. Client may want to move in the opposite direction. Change and invalidation can make arousal levels go up.
What is a major difference between CBT and DBT approaches to change.
CBT is focused on change, while DBT balances change with acceptance.
Early in the development of DBT, why did treatment efforts fail?
She focused on change, which led to arousal, a sense of being out-of-control, which impaired client cognitive processing and resulted in an intense effort to control.
What is the D in DBT referring to?
Dialectical. It refers to the dialectic, or the tension / synthesis between the polar opposites of acceptance and change. Reality changes when opposites synthesize.
What are four qualities of a dialectical view of treatment in DBT?
1) Balance of treatment strategies, skills, and styles.
2) Search for what is left out (e.g., a 2nd suicide plan?)
3) Search for synthesis (if there is a winner, there is a loser)
4) Movement, speed, and flow
What is a dialectical suggestion to a person who is fighting with their spouse?
What do you want when you are fighting? (to win) If you are the winner, who are you married to? (the loser)
What is an analogy that could help with someone who is refusing to give up their suicide option?
The suicide door. You are in a painful, hot, sickening room, and there is a bright light coming from a door, a way out. This is a suicide door. What if I told you there are other doors, you just can’t see them because the light of the suicide door is so bright. And these other doors lead to happier life, more contentment. But to see them you need to step away from the suicide door.
What is an irreverant response to a DBT client says they are going to kill themselves?
“Dear, I thought we agreed you were not going to quit therapy.”
According to Linehan, what is the advantage to irreverant responses?
“We process more deeply information that is not expected”
According to Linehan, what is one of the most effective emotion regulation strategies?
Distraction
What is the DBT approach in regards to behavioural reinforcement of parasuicidal behaviour?
Call before you attempt, but not for 24 hours after. This is to prevent reinforcement of parasuicidal behaviours.
What does the T in TIP skills refer to?
Tip the temperature. The Mamalian dive reflex when putting head below heart and submerging face in ice water or on ice packs for 30 seconds, or as long as you can tolerate. Water should cover temples. Will slow heart rate and calm dysregulated emotions. Practice this a few times first, before you are dysregulated.