Product Description

A Clear and Effective Approach to Learning DBT Skills

First developed for treating borderline personality disorder, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) has proven effective as treatment for a range of other mental health problems, especially for those characterized by overwhelming emotions. Research shows that DBT can improve your ability to handle distress without losing control and acting destructively. In order to make use of these techniques, you need to build skills in four key areas--distress tolerance, mindfulness, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.

This book, a collaborative effort from three esteemed authors, offers straightforward, step-by-step exercises for learning these concepts and putting them to work for real and lasting change. Start by working on the introductory exercises and, after making progress, move on to the advanced-skills chapters. Whether you are a professional or a general reader, whether you use this book to support work done in therapy or as the basis for self-help, you'll benefit from this clear and practical guide to better managing your emotions.

The individual struggling with overwhelming emotions and DBT therapists will benefit significantly from this workbook. McKay, Wood and Brantley have expanded and translated DBT Skills, making Linehan's iconic work on emotional skill building even more accessible and easy to apply to everyday life.
--Kate Northcott, MA, MFT, is a DBT therapist in private practice with Mindfulness Therapy Associates and is director of New Perspectives Center for Counseling, a non-profit counseling center, in San Francisco, CA

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #505 in Books
• Published on: 2007-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 232 pages

From the Publisher
By a distinguished team of authors, this workbook offers readers unprecedented access to the core skills of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), formerly available only through complicated professional books and a small handful of topical workbooks. These straightforward, step-by-step exercises will bring DBT core skills to thousands who need it.

About the Author
Matthew McKay, Ph.D., is a professor at the Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA. He is coauthor of The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook, Thoughts and Feelings, Messages, and Self-Esteem.

Jeffrey C. Wood, Psy.D., lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area. He specializes in cognitive behavioral treatments for depression, anxiety, and trauma, as well as assertiveness and life-skills coaching. He is author of Getting Help.

Jeffrey Brantley, MD, is a consulting associate in the Duke Department of Psychiatry and the founder and director of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program at Duke University's Center for Integrative Medicine. He is author of Calming Your Anxious Mind.

Customer Reviews

Amazing resource.
I've read a lot of self-help, pop-psych books targeted at dealing with strong emotions. Most of them seemed true & helpful at the time I was reading them, but fell apart when I tried applying them to life. This book is not only easy to use while you are using it, but it is easy to recall later in the day, or the week, or even a few months later, and easy to use the techniques. I even find myself suggesting techniques to friends who share emotionally-distressing situations with me. Later, my friends report that it was some of the best advice they've gotten.

I also have Don't Let Your Emotions Run Your Life: How Dialectical Behavior Therapy Can Put You in Control (New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook), which seems to be the same general idea, but didn't seem to be as helpful for me. I just wish that therapists trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy were more widespread and easier to find. Highly recommended book for anyone who is working on dealing with overwhelming emotions.

Provides sensible and realistic ways to help yourself
I picked up the DBT workbook to learn how to help a good friend who suffers from bi-polar disorder. It improved our interactions with each other, and in working through the exercises I discovered practical ways to thwart depression and manage my own emotions. This book's for anyone who suffers from depression, anger, anxiety or just wants to have a little more control over their emotions.

EASIER TO USE THAN MARSHA LINEHAN'S TRAINING MANUAL
This is an easy review of the concepts presented by DBT founder Marsha Linehan. I am reviewing it with my psychologist and he is helping me to understand her phenominal new ways of living and being at peace with the daily distressors in life. Great workbook to have to heal yourself of mental and regular day to day stressors.