Radically Open DBT

Radically Open DBT (RO DBT) has been in development for over 20 years. Many of the clinicians at the DBT Center are trained in RO DBT. RO DBT is a treatment for patients who suffer from emotional over-control. 

What is emotional overcontrol?

High self-control is generally regarded as a positive trait. However, too much self-control underlies many problems individuals experience in life. Overcontrol is related to social isolation, interpersonal problems, and is seen as a strong underlying component of anorexia, obsessive compulsive personality disorder, and chronic depression. People who are overly controlled need help with learning how to relax overly rigid rules, be more open in expressing their emotions, and develop connections with others.

Serious person with Disorder of Overcontrol (DoOC)

“I am so grateful for the time I spent at the DBT Center. I felt safe and supported from day one and learned valuable tools that I will carry with me throughout my life. The staff are extremely knowledgeable and dedicated to the growth of their clients. They meet you where you are at and accept you as you are, but do not hesitate to push you outside your comfort zone towards health and healing.”

– CA, RO DBT CLIENT

Get Started At DBT Center

Learn more about RO-DBT

You may benefit from RO DBT if you have:

    • Perfectionism
    • Rigid Rules
    • Difficulty forming relationships, loneliness
    • Obsessive thinking
    • Difficulty expressing affection and other emotions
    • Excessive need for planning and organization
    • A sense of not fitting in and loneliness, social awkwardness

    About RO-DBT Treatment:

    Treatments targeting problems of overcontrol require interventions designed to relax inhibitory control and increase emotional expressiveness, receptivity, and flexibility whereas treatments targeting problems of undercontrol should emphasize interventions that enhance inhibitory control and reduce mood-dependent behavior (Lynch, 2017).

    What do you learn in RO-DBT?

    The focus of RO DBT is to enhance or develop social connections. RO-DBT involves individual therapy taking a skills class. RO-DBT focuses on learning three core principles:

    1. Openness to feedback, even when challenging.
    2. Flexibility in responding to challenges in our environment (including other’s behavior).
    3. Effective communication of our emotions, recognizing that emotion expression is central to forming strong relationships.

    How is the skills class structured?

    The class uses a traditional classroom format. Everyone who attends sits around a table. The facilitators begin each class with a brief exercise, followed by homework review, the introduction of new material, and homework assignments. It should feel familiar as the format is like other classroom settings. We aim to create a welcoming, warm, and fun environment for learning.

      To learn more about emotional overcontrol and whether RO-DBT might be

      relevant for you or a loved one, you can watch the video below.