Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO DBT)?

Radically Open DBT (RO-DBT) is a newer version of therapy that’s particularly helpful for people who might be a bit too controlled or rigid in their lives.

While traditional DBT helps people who struggle with intense emotions, RO-DBT is designed for folks who might keep their emotions under wraps too much.

Think of it like this: Some people are like pressure cookers that need help containing their steam (traditional DBT), while others are like thermoses that are sealed so tight they need help opening up (RO-DBT).

The “radically open” part is about learning to:

      • Be more flexible in your thinking and behavior
      • Connect with others more authentically
      • Express emotions more freely
      • Learn that it’s okay (and even good!) to be imperfect
      • Value social connection over rigid self-control

RO-DBT works well for people who:

Hold themselves to very high standards

Have trouble being flexible when things don't go as planned

Find it hard to open up to others or show vulnerability

Focus intensely on getting things "right"

Might appear outwardly successful but struggle with loneliness or feeling fulfilled

The therapy teaches that true emotional well-being often comes from being able to let others in and roll with life’s uncertainties, rather than trying to control everything. It’s particularly helpful for conditions like chronic depression, anorexia nervosa, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.

A key message of RO-DBT is that it’s brave to be open with others and that loosening rigid patterns doesn’t mean losing control – it means gaining the freedom to live a more connected and fulfilling life.