There’s no question that self-control is important. That being said, there are times when letting go of ourselves a little can be beneficial and healthy. While most forms of cognitive-behavioral therapy work on building self-control, Radically Open Dialectal Behavior Therapy (RO DBT) takes almost the opposite approach. It understands that for some people, overcontrolling themselves can be unhealthy and possibly even detrimental. Rather than spending so much energy reinforcing certain behavioral goals, it takes a step back and gives the individual a chance to express themselves openly. As a treatment for anorexia, depression, and several other disorders, there is growing evidence that RO DBT can make a tremendous difference in the emotional health and wellbeing of many. 

What Is RO DBT Exactly?

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In essence, it’s a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy that’s been developed to help treat excessive self-control. This issue is often developed at a young age as a coping mechanism to make up for an individual’s difficulty in controlling behavior. Over-control may help to quell undesirable behavior, but it may also stifle the ability to form relationships and develop interpersonal bonds. At present, it’s understood that over-control relates to a variety of issues such as:

• Anorexia
• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
• Chronic Depression
• Bi-Polar Disorder
• And Others

RO DBT seeks to help people who’ve become over-controlling as a result of these issues. It focuses on the principles of openness, flexibility, and social connectedness to help maintain healthy emotional wellbeing. Allowing people to let go and express themselves openly is essential for forming real human connections, which is why it’s important for those with such mental conditions to learn a less overbearing form of self-control.

How RO DBT Can Help

Those with anorexia nervosa, bipolar disorder, and other similar behavioral conditions are often the ones who come to develop a debilitating level of control over their own behavior. This can contribute to unhealthy habits like hiding their true emotions, holding back emotional reactions, and generally preventing themselves from expressing themselves openly. RO DBT attempts to correct this limitation by helping those with over-control associate “radical openness” with positive social rewards.

In addition to regular cognitive behavioral therapy, RO DBT focuses on correcting deficits in social signaling. This is a factor that has often been overlooked in other forms of therapy, but it plays an important role in how this therapy assists with healthy emotional expression. As individuals, we’re always socially signaling, whether we’re conscious of it or not. In an over-controlling state of mind, you may feel inhibited from signaling on your own volition and perhaps even unwilling to express social cues at all. Not only does this limit you from effectively forming relationships, but it actually sends a social signal regardless. Part of learning to feel comfortable with social situations is by letting go of your control mechanisms and allowing yourself to signal openly. With RO DBT, you would have a safe place to open up and practice letting go, allowing you to openly express yourself with others in a meaningful way.

Is RO DBT Right For Me?

Do you or someone you care for struggle with social situations and relationships as a result of over-control? Have you ever sought treatment for anorexia or any other behavioral health conditions? If so, there’s a chance RO DBT can help you by improving your capability to connect with others and explore healthy emotional relationships with other human beings. As a therapeutic treatment, there is a growing acceptance and interest in RO DBT based on increasing scientific evidence of its results. 

At Fairwinds Treatment, we offer a range of treatments and approaches to help you with your emotional and mental wellbeing. Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy may be what you need, but we understand that everyone is unique and deserves an approach suited for your individual needs.  Visit us here to learn more and schedule an appointment to get started on a personalized treatment plan. Together, we’ll search for a treatment that works for you!