DBT Therapy

[Orange Phone]

Hi,

I am having trouble with the DBT Therapy model / structure. My therapist wants me to do it so I can be more prepared if I ever get suicidal again. Sounds good. I started it and it is really hard and painful as, if you know, we have "homework" and we are supposed to report back in how it went etc. It is making me feel like I am back in "school." One aspect of my CPTSD was bullying and abuse in school. Being "seen" can be terrifying for me. I choose to be there, but in there itself everyone is expected to answer.. or have to explain why they did not do the homework. And well..... trust and groups.. eh.. takes me awhile. I've been in-treatment, outpatient treatment.. and individual therapy. And this is the only one I have felt this way yet.. I feel like a freak for having this struggle. I just don't want to go back.. Thanks

 

[Still Standing]

I did not do DBT but, CBT, instead. It was very difficult and I felt like an utter failure with it. I, too, have school issues that have left me with recurring nightmares. The overall feeling like I was "flunking" CBT about did me in. Having homework reinforced the sense that I was in a pass or fail program. I am assuming this is your problem, too. Not only can you not figure out what the "right" answers should be, they don't make sense in light of how you feel about the answers. I felt like I was lying if I knew what the answers should be but I did not, personally, believe them. It was a huge struggle doing this therapy. I wish I had the answers you need. The only thing I can suggest is that you keep at it. Eventually, your thought processes will change, a baby step at a time. I finally made some progress, but it took a long time. It takes time to change the brain's thoughts and reactions. You are not a failure. You can do this.

 

[shimmerz]

Any chance that you can reframe the word 'homework' to be something like practice? Maybe talk to your T about your concerns with the expectations (which is a PTSD thing in my mind anyway) and see how you do when expectations on you are retracted? Any idea how that might feel for you?

 

[Still Standing]

Wow! What a great suggestion, @shimmerz! "practice" takes the bite out of "homework". I am going to adopt this rephrasing!!! Thanks!

 

[Orange Phone]

thing is, one guy did not do it and she gave him a bit of a hard time. I don't mind the idea and the practice its the reporting back and "being seen."

 

[shimmerz]

one guy did not do it and she gave him a bit of a hard time.

Yes, I can relate to this strongly. Can you speak to someone about this? It sounds to me like you aren't ready for the expectation part of DBT.

I am going to throw this out there. If your T is concerned with you being stuck, is it possible that you could do another form of group therapy? One without the expectations? I am going to suggest WRAP. The Copeland Center is the creator of it. There are many groups put on and it is a great tool for wellness. Maybe call the Copeland Center and see if they have WRAP facilitators in your area?

 

[grit]

this is one of the reasons I do not do therapy that requires me to bring materials. I wonder and just wondering if you could use some upfront honesty of saying I am really sorry therapist but I simply cannot do this now. Can you please give me few weeks, months or days until i am ready. Then when I am ready I will let you know. It is like you are voicing your truth and you are also taking a risk. Say this causes you a lot of anxiety and you just not there yet. Can you do this with the therapist alone not when everybody is looking at you and waiting for an answer?

I hope your therapist is flexible enough and bend the rules for each client until they are off the training wheels for this type of therapy.

 

[Orange Phone]

Thanks for the ideas... It is with a social worker, not my trauma therapist. I wrote the social worker 2 weeks ago and neither she or the partner social worker responded. Wrote her again today...

Its ironic that I could share pretty easily when I was inpatient at the psych hospital. I just follow my instincts.... It is odd that its a 6 months program and little time for adjustments...

 

[Abstract]

A5re you receiving any additional therapy than that where you can talk about group and all these difficulties? What options have you been given and have you done any behavioural therapy like this before? No pressure to answer : )

 

[Joan]

I struggled when I first started DBT, but in the end has been one of the best things ever...has given me the best coping skills. One thing that helped a bit for me was to have a DBT coach to meet with individually....helped diffuse the intensity of the group. Best wishes!

 

[shatter eyes]

I am told to try DBT.

Is it true u have therapist after hours so we can call when things go bad outside of office?