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Contributed by Tara Guest Arnold, PhD, LCSW Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is an offspring of cognitive behavior therapy that incorporates Eastern meditative practices. The dialectic comes from the synthesis of opposites, particularly acceptance and change, that is a tenet core to the DBT philosophy. We accept ourselves as good enough, and we recognize the need for all of us to […]

By Suzette Bray, MFT, Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Topic Expert Contributor Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) distress tolerance skills address the tendency of some individuals to experience negative emotions as overwhelming and unbearable. People with a low tolerance for distress can become overwhelmed at relatively mild levels of stress, and may react with negative behaviors. Many traditional treatment approaches

By Amy Morin LCSW Mental strength requires a three-pronged approach—managing our thoughts, regulating our emotions, and behaving productively despite our circumstances. While all three areas can be a struggle, it’s often our thoughts that make it most difficult to be mentally strong.  As we go about our daily routines, our internal monologue narrates our experience. Our self-talk

Contributed by Julie Hanson, MS, LMFT It would be nice if life presented itself as a clear-cut path with well-defined signs to clearly state what we should do (or not) at each fork in the road. The weather would always be beautiful. We’d always be enjoying our favorite foods while talking to our perfect families

By Sarah Noel, MS, LMHC, Person Centered / Rogerian Psychotherapy Topic Expert Contributor Imagine your best friend comes to you deeply distraught—her father died six months ago, and her mother’s health is rapidly deteriorating. Over the past year, she has been consumed with managing care and legal issues, making funeral preparations, and grieving. Naturally, some things at work and at home

Contributed by Yvonne Sinclair, MA, MFCC Are you a person who takes care of everyone else before yourself? Do you believe you should put yourself last? If you routinely take care of others’ needs before your own, then you may have codependent tendencies. In a relationship, codependent behaviors can potentially sabotage your relationship success. If you neglect

By Dhyan Summers, MA, LMFT, GoodTherapy.org Topic Expert Contributor Because it’s mostly silent and invisible, childhood emotional neglect is largely an overlooked phenomenon in psychology. Unlike physical neglect or abuse, where there are signs such as bruises or children coming to school underfed, emotional neglect is difficult to identify as there are frequently no observable signs. More importantly, emotional neglect is generally

 By Stephen L. Salter, PsyD, Values Clarification Topic Expert Contributor “Take a look at the bright side,” we tell our loved ones when they’re feeling down. “See the cup half full, not half empty.” We help lift our friends by saying, “Cheer up! Don’t dwell in the negative. Be grateful. Think about all that you have.” If it

“You are very powerful, provided you know how powerful you are.” — Yogi Bhajan Can you remember a time when you felt completely helpless? I do. It was the day my daughter was diagnosed with a serious digestive illness. The doctor told us in the hospital chapel, and he acted like it was a death

Lindsay Holmes, Healthy Living Editor, The Huffington Post ATSUSHI YAMADA VIA GETTY IMAGES This goes out to anyone who is too hard on themselves. Being a human being is a difficult job. You’re going to make mistakes along the way. However, that doesn’t mean you should constantly berate yourself rather than praise yourself.  Below are