Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO DBT) is therapy for perfectionism and overcontrol. The idea of “radical openness” helps clients who struggle with perfections or who are white knuckling it through life to find wellbeing through:
- Openness
- Flexibility
- Social Connectedness
What a person feels or thinks inside is considered less important in RO DBT, whereas how a person communicates or socially signals their experiences to others -and its impact on social connectedness- is given priority.
When you’re lonely it’s hard to feel happy no matter how much you try to accept or change your circumstances. You can try to think most positively, keep busy, exercise, practice yoga, or distract yourself and still feel like something fundamental is missing. RO DBT involves revealing intentions and emotions to those around us. We get it, that’s a major shift but it’s called “radical openness” for a reason and you’ll have our experts here at Bright Spot with you every step of the way. For perfectionists, this path leads toward creating the types of social bonds that are the cornerstone of a happy life. In the long run, we’re social beings, and we want to share our lives with our friends and loved ones. Basically, when we feel a part of a tribe, we naturally feel safe and worry less.
Do you help everyone else but feel like no one helps you when you’re struggling?
What we at Bright Spot know from years of experience in helping perfectionists is that it’s often hard for their family and friends to read a perfectionist’s facial expressions in order to know when they need help. RO DBT is a tool that focuses on teaching skills to help make this part easier so others can come to their aid which increases trust and goes hand in hand with bonding.
Knowing others are there for you too naturally helps decrease anxiety, depression, and helps balance the gifts as well as the challenges of perfectionism.
Through small but deliberate tweaks, RO DBT helps perfectionists to signal more effectively to others and be more open and flexible in their daily lives. This changes their everyday experiences with others and experience of themselves.
What is RO DBT Effective in Treating?
RO DBT is most effective for clients who consider themselves perfectionists or have trouble letting go of control of their emotions or “letting their guard down” to engage in life in a way that feels helpful. RO DBT serves in reducing anxiety, depression and relationship strain due to overcontrol.
