DBT For Dummies

by Gillian Galen, Blaise Aguirre

In this book, our expert authors bring their extensive knowledge to light with creative ideas that work, clinical examples, treatment plans, and strategies for adapting the skills across a variety of settings and age groups. Examples throughout this book will address issues such as: anger, depression, anxiety, phobias, eating disorders, Borderline Personality Disorder, stress management, impulse control, and more. This guide will focus on the following:

Overview of DBT
Components Used in DBT
What Disorders Does DBT Treat?
Mindfulness
Working with Emotions
How to Support someone who is going through therapy
DBT Applications

Genres: Psychology, Self Help, Nonfiction, Mental Health, Audiobook, Social Work

357 pages, Paperback

First published April 13, 2021

About the author

Gillian Galen is an instructor in psychology at Harvard Medical School. She is the assistant director of training and senior psychologist at 3East at the Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital. 3East is a unique, residential DBT program for young women exhibiting self-endangering behaviors and borderline personality traits. She specializes in adolescent psychotherapy, including DBT. She has a particular interest in using mindfulness and yoga in the treatment of BPD and other psychiatric illnesses. Galen has been a registered yoga instructor since 2008.

Reviews

[Katie]

What an absolutely brilliant book.

I've heard so much about this book and type of therapy from various sources over the last year, and thought I'd check it out because it sounded like it could be a really useful tool, and I'm so glad I did.

This isn't the type of book, that's easy to review because it'll be personal to each person who reads it and because everyone has different experiences, but for me, this book was exactly what I need.

At it's core, this is a typically "For Dummies" book, doesn't have to be read chapter by chapter and is good to have as a reference, but honestly, I personally needed to read it that way. There's so much valuable information and techniques throughout the book, and references to other chapters, that I'm glad I read it the way I did.

In a nutshell, this book gives you an overview about dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), how it works, the techniques they use and generally the main types of conditions it treats.

I learned so much about myself while reading this, but it could definitely be useful for anyone because it focuses a lot on emotion regulation and tackles every day issues. It's a very different type of therapy based on what I know and really believe everyone could get value out of this.

I definitely plan to reread this (some chapters I've already reread) because there's just so much to absorb and do and I hope to integrate much if this in my life where applicable.

[Audrey Alvarez]

This book describes Dialectal Behavioral Training. The description is enough to understand what is expected from the patient and therapist. The training combines Cognitive Behavioral Training (CBT), mindfulness, loving mindfulness and coping skills. The therapist responsibility is as intense as a suicidal hotline, available 24 hours and seven days a week. DBT teaches patients how to be aware, calm, prepared and balanced. After training patient should be able to cope. This skill improves relationships, mood and mental health. It is well written and comprehensive.

[Anahita Berenji]

I came across this book by accident. I was listening to MSNBC when the writers were being interviewed. What I inferred from the conversation was that the book can emensely help individuals in better comunicating with other including friends, colleagues, spouses and so
Until I start to listening to the book. I can say confidently this book has had one the biggest impact if not the biggest on my life.
It's mainly about "emotionally Sensitive" people. Those how perceives feeling, senses or emotions way stronger than others and consequently reacts out of proportion to the event triggering the emotion. These reactions can in turn result in catastrophic consequences such as loosing a job or ruing a relationship...
As a emotionally sensitive person myself, I learned a lot from this book. I try to devise its method and solution in my everyday life and I even begin to phantom how my life would have been better if I had read this book when I was younger.

[Martin Peña JR, LSW]

A lot of useful information in here as one would expect. If you are at all curious about the practice, don’t hesitate!

[Mario Perales]

Very useful introduction for patients and therapists.
This book covers a lot about DBT and it’s theoretical underpinnings. It may be a little too much for laypeople, on extent and complexity but I think that’s necessary because the therapeutic model in itself is robust.

[Ana]

Interesting

I think this is a helpful book that breaks things down nicely. I have some issues with anxiety and emotional dysregulation, not sure if this helps me in this moment, but still a helpful book.

[Heather]

Took me nearly a month to read because I was STUD-Y-INNNNNNG!! So much useful information with step by step guides in how to implement the techniques into your daily life. I’ve been curious about DBT for a little while and I felt like this book explained everything so well!

[Vivian]

It’s maybe mean of me to rate this as three stars when it was exactly as billed. I wish it went a bit deeper but can recognize that it was an introductory book. I also wish the skills were organized differently, but I can’t imagine an alternative. Maybe I’m a hater! Apologies.

[Pranav Anand]

6. It was a great overview of DBT and how it works with some great exercises. The book is just for a therapist rather than a practitioner so many of the sections were not as useful. Still enjoyed it.

[Justin]

not for therapists but for clients

[Kath Conti]

Written by experts, 100% practical and useful.

[Daniel Cherry]

Some good information

[Judith McNees]

I do not recommend this as an audiobook. There are too many side boxes that make it feel disjointed and difficult to follow. If you truly want to learn dbt, at least get an ebook so you can read the sections in a way that flows.