This week in Adolescent and Family DBT Group

We are currently in the Middle Path module in Adolescent and Family DBT Group.  This week we reviewed the first part of Dialectics and taught Dialectical Dilemmas.  Dialectics involves thinking about something in a new way, instead of getting stuck in extreme views.  Dialectics teach us that there is more than one way to see a situation and to solve a problem.  The core dialectic in DBT is balancing acceptance and change.  Dialectic Dilemmas involve common dilemmas in families with adolescents, including balancing independence and dependence or being too loose versus being to strict.  For homework, family members will practice calling the dialectic when disagreements start to get hot, instead of escalating. Once someone calls the dialectic, family members can look to find a middle path between the two extremes. 

This Week in Adult DBT Group

We are currently in the Distress Tolerance module in the Adult DBT Group.  This week we reviewed the Distract skills (Distract with ACCEPTS) and taught the Self-Soothe skills.  Self-Soothing involves decreasing negative emotions by engaging our 5 senses.  For example, you could self soothe with vision (lighting a candle), hearing (listening to soothing music), smell (using a favorite lotion), taste (drinking hot tea), and touch (putting on a cozy sweater).  Group members were also asked to make a self-soothe kit to use during a crisis. 

Article on Mindfulness in the NY Times

Click here to read a recent article in the New York Times about mindfulness.