DBT Therapy

[Guest guest]

I wrote about 5 weeks ago when I first started going to a DBT therapy

group/class and talked about speaking up and questioning the group's director

about how she responded to this obnoxious guy's behavior in the class. Thank u

to those of u who responded!! It has been interesting to say the least. (btw,

he left the class one week after he didn't get his way and I spoke up..and

didn't say goodbye to anyone- even the people he'd been in class with for 8

months)

First, the Group is geared towards people who have BPD, not ko's like me. It

follows the Dialectical Behavioral Therapy protocol developed by Marsha Linehan.

All but 1 other person has BPD, and u can surely tell! It has triggered anxiety

in me on many occasions, to the point where I hurt so bad I had to take

medicine. 2 or 3 of them I can't even sit by bc they trigger me sooooo much.

However, I think the benefits outweigh the negatives in the short term...6 month

class, but u can take it a second time if u like.

It's kind of difficult bc I come from the 'receiving end' and have to translate

what they say into what would benefit a ko. Mostly though the class is teaching

me (and the BPD's) how to react when people say something to u that u don't

like, how to think about other's feelings, and quite honestly, how to be a

normal, nice person....things which, imo, most ko's already know, but it does

help.

There seems to be a lot of emphasis on self-esteem...which helps me bc the bpd's

in my life have broken me down. As for how the bpd's in the class react, I'm

not so sure they really have a problem in that area. They think they're right &

great!!

I expressed my difficulty in understanding or trying to conceptualize what's

being taught to how it relates to my perspective after class the 2nd week, and

that it'd be really helpful if they started another class that consists Only of

ko's, spouses, etc. Just last week after class, my therapist told me they are

doing just that starting July 5. Actually, a lot of people have inquired about

this same thing for some time now. I really hope it helps!!!

Oh, and one more thing, both the class/group and this Wonderful Group have

helped me stand up to my bpd's and not settle for their big, bags o crap!!!

Thank u so much!!!!!