Synopses & Reviews
A Clear and Effective Approach to Learning DBT Skills
First developed for treating borderline personality disorder, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) has proven effective as treatment for a range of other mental health problems, especially for those characterized by overwhelming emotions. Research shows that DBT can improve your ability to handle distress without losing control and acting destructively. In order to make use of these techniques, you need to build skills in four key areas-distress tolerance, mindfulness, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook, a collaborative effort from three esteemed authors, offers straightforward, step-by-step exercises for learning these concepts and putting them to work for real and lasting change. Start by working on the introductory exercises and, after making progress, move on to the advanced-skills chapters. Whether you are a professional or a general reader, whether you use this book to support work done in therapy or as the basis for self-help, you'll benefit from this clear and practical guide to better managing your emotions.
This book has been awarded The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Self-Help Seal of Merit an award bestowed on outstanding self-help books that are consistent with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles and that incorporate scientifically tested strategies for overcoming mental health difficulties. Used alone or in conjunction with therapy, our books offer powerful tools readers can use to jump-start changes in their lives.
Find more help online at cbt-self-help-therapy.com. CBT Self-Help Therapy offers web-based treatment for borderline personality disorder (BPD) and emotion dysregulation based on the book The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook. This interactive program can be used by clients working on their own, or their therapists can monitor their work on the secure server. Other modules in CBT Self-Help Therapy offer treatment for stress, anxiety, depression, and anger.
Review
"The individual struggling with overwhelming emotions and DBT therapists will benefit significantly from this workbook. McKay, Wood and Brantley have expanded and translated DBT Skills, making Linehan's iconic work on emotional skill building even more accessible and easy to apply to everyday life."
—Kate Northcott, MA, MFT, is a DBT therapist in private practice with Mindfulness Therapy Associates and is director of New Perspectives Center for Counseling, a non-profit counseling center, in San Francisco, CA
Review
Until relatively recently, there has been little to relieve the pronounced suffering of those living with borderline personality disorder. In their lucid and deeply compassionate book, Blaise Aguirre and Gillian Galen explore how mindfulnessthe essential strategy in dialectical behavior therapy, developed by preeminent psychologist Marsha Linehancan open the doors to genuine healing. This informative and accessible guide includes a rich set of mindfulness exercises and short case studies to bring inner ease, resourcefulness, and freedom. Whether you experience borderline symptomology, have loved ones who struggle with this condition, or are a therapist seeking to enhance your skills, this book will provide you with invaluable support and inspiration."
Tara Brach, PhD, author of Radical Acceptance and True Refuge
Review
Finally, a practical guide for helping individuals improve their BPD symptoms by applying the core DBT skill of mindfulness. Aguirre and Galen have applied mindfulness to borderline personality disorder in a unique and precise way. This is a book many people suffering from BPD can use to improve the quality of their lives."
Michael Roy, LCSW, founder and executive director of Clearview Womens Center for Borderline Personality Disorder
Review
Aguirre and Galen have written a lucid, elegant, and practical book. Speaking directly to the individual with borderline personality disorder, they offer accessible explanations and instructions for applying ancient mindfulness practices to current suffering, destructive urges, waves of emotional pain, and endangered relationshipsall in the service of building a life worth living. The authors are effective, even ingenious, in showing how to use each of the six core mindfulness skills in dialectical behavior therapy to address each of the painful features of borderline personality disorder, which include feelings of emptiness, identity disturbances, episodes of dissociation and paranoia, and self-hatred. The vignettes are true-to-life, the explanations of neuroscience and Buddhism are understandable, the prescribed practices are immediately useful, and the whole package is presented with a maximum of clarity, a minimum of jargon, and a tone of compassion. I cant wait to prescribe this book to my patients; indeed, I think it has already made me a better teacher!”
Charles Swenson, MD, associate clinical professor of psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, with a private practice of psychiatry and psychotherapy in Northampton, MA
Review
Bringing together dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), biological science, and mindfulness traditions with their own clinical wisdom, Aguirre and Galen offer a comprehensive users guide for managing the mental anguish associated with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Whether already experienced or brand new to DBT, those recovering from BPD will find their insights and practices invaluable for growing in self-acceptance and effective living. I highly recommend this book to individuals who feel trapped in a life of suffering.”
Seth R. Axelrod, PhD, associate professor in the department of psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine
Review
This small gem of a book takes the reader on a quiet, but powerful journey of healing as the practice of mindfulness is systematically applied to the core problem areas of borderline personality disorder. The authors show exactly how one can take a life filled with suicidal thoughts and self-destructive behaviors and change it by applying mindfulness skills to underlying dysregulation of emotions, thoughts, behaviors, relationships, and experiences of self. They do this through clear explanations, step-by-step instructions, and excellent case examples. By the end, one has a deep appreciation of the central role of mindfulness practice in overcoming borderline pathology and building a live worth living. It also offers actual clinical skills to help patients develop mindfulness skills where it counts. This is an invaluable book for sufferers of BPD and for all who work with them.”
Don Ross, MD, medical director of the Retreat at Sheppard Pratt and clinical associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Maryland
Review
Blaise Aguirre and Gillian Galen's book offers positive coping skills and real inspiration to people working to move beyond the suffering arising from their struggles with BPD. This clear presentation of the practices of mindfulness and loving kindness ties in closely with their work as dialectical behavior therapists, and is a most valuable contribution.”
Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness, and cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society
Review
Mindfulness for Borderline Personality Disorder is an indispensable book for anyone suffering from BPD. Packed with innovative techniques and ancient wisdom, it answers the often-asked question, how can mindfulness help me with specific BPD symptoms? Aguirre and Galen have successfully answered this question with an exceptional book full of concrete exercises and personal examples. They teach us how to build the muscle of mindfulness in all areas of our lives, uniting mindfulness skills with practices of compassion, meditation, and self-reflection. I've found this book to be an essential companion to Marsha Linehan's
Skills Training Manual for Treating Borderline Personality Disorder, complimenting and expanding on the critical foundation of core mindfulness by helping us apply awareness and compassion to ourselves, our relationships, and the world we live in. My copy of
Mindfulness for Borderline Personality Disorder is already highlighted and dog-eared after only one reading, and I am certain this valuable book will be an enduring resource and inspiration for all those on the path of BPD recovery.”
Kiera Van Gelder, author of The Buddha and the Borderline
Review
Aguirre and Galen use their combined years of experience working with teens and young adults diagnosed with BPD to produce an excellent book for consumers, family members, and professionals. They review various aspects of mindfulness and how it can help individuals diagnosed with BPD reduce their suffering while increasing their capacity for pleasure and joy. The authors provide helpful instructions on how to set up a formal mindfulness practice as well as how to practice mindfulness in daily living. I commend the authors for taking sophisticated content about mindfulness and borderline personality disorder and making it easy to understand and apply."
Alec Miller, cofounder of Cognitive and Behavioral Consultants of Westchester and Manhattan and professor of clinical psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
Review
Aguirre and Galen have provided an outstanding contribution to those practicing, learning, or teaching mindfulness. Both the concepts and examples equally serve the novice and the expert, making the book a must-have resource for everyone. Every personal, professional, and public library should have this book on its shelf.”
Perry D. Hoffman, PhD, president of the National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder
Review
“Chapman and Gratz expand the boundaries of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and provide readers with a practical blueprint for managing destructive and excessive anger reactions. A must-read for anyone interested in reducing problematic anger, improving relationships, and enhancing inner peace.”—Raymond Chip Tafrate, PhD, professor and clinical psychologist in the department of criminology and criminal justice at Central Connecticut State University, coeditor of Forensic CBT, and coauthor of Anger Management for Everyone
Review
“Anger is an emotion that we all experience in varying degrees. However, intense and poorly modulated anger can greatly interfere with clients’ efforts at a central goal of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): ‘building a life worth living.’ This compassionately written and motivating workbook is an essential resource for helping clients to understand, express, and effectively manage their anger in nondestructive ways. By teaching clients to apply core DBT skills specifically to help them cope with and manage their anger, this book is an indispensable and potentially life-changing therapeutic tool.”—Lori N. Scott, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and clinical psychologist and researcher with expertise in emotion dysregulation, aggression, and treatment approaches for borderline personality disorder
Review
“Anyone who gets angry will benefit from learning the skills in this highly readable yet scientifically sound book.”—Ruth Baer, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of Kentucky, and author of The Practicing Happiness Workbook
Review
“Chapman and Gratz have given us an excellent workbook that clearly explains dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) theory and shows us how to easily apply DBT skills to episodes of anger. It is clearly written, with many worksheets that help make the concepts come alive. Working through their mindfulness and emotion regulation exercises will surely be of help to all adults who suffer from problematic anger. I strongly recommend this workbook.”—Howard Kassinove, PhD, ABPP, professor of psychology and director of the Institute for the Study and Treatment of Anger and Aggression at Hofstra University
Review
“This much-needed workbook is sure to be a source of hope and relief for those who struggle with anger. Combining evidence-based skills with engaging examples and useful worksheets, this is a practical guide that will help readers learn strategies that work, and identify ways of using these skills in their daily lives. I highly recommend The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Anger.”—Katherine L. Dixon-Gordon, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst
Review
“It’s easy to chastise those who don’t control their anger and suggest their problem lies in a lack of motivation, but we now know that for many, the problem lies in a lack of anger management skills. This easy-to-read and easy-to-use workbook is framed in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and lays out a road map for identifying anger triggers and the skills that are essential to handling these triggers. Most impressive, the workbook artfully provides the reader with a broad menu of strategies while allowing each individual to zero in and really focus in the areas most central to their own struggles.”—Carl Lejuez, professor of psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park; founding director of the Center for Addictions, Personality, and Emotion Research; and founding editor of the journal Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment
Review
“Chapman and Gratz have tackled the significant human challenge of anger and provide a much-needed, easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide to making anger ‘an ally rather than an enemy.’ They provide skillful guidance in better understanding, recognizing, and responding to our own angry responses so that anger does not disrupt our lives. Their practical, compassionate approach will help clients (and therapists who work with them) to learn new skills for managing their anger, including how to express it effectively and how to recover following angry interactions. I highly recommend this book to anyone who struggles with anger, and to those committed to helping them lead more satisfying lives.”—Lizabeth Roemer, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of Massachusetts Boston, and coauthor of The Mindful Way through Anxiety
Review
“The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Anger by Chapman and Gratz uses current dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) emotion theory and behavioral principles to create a practical, easy-to-read guidebook for managing unhelpful anger. Complex theory is broken down—step-by-step—into principles of change and then translated into realistic skills and user-friendly worksheets. This manual is a must-read for anyone struggling with how to understand, express, or regulate anger.”—Thomas R. Lynch, PhD, FBPsS, professor and director of the School of Psychology and director of the Emotion and Personality Bio-behavioural Laboratory at the University of Southampton, as well as chief investigator at REFRAMED
Review
“Dysregulated anger is a major part of the emotional instability dimension of borderline personality disorder (BPD). This skills workbook by Chapman and Gratz presents clients, in enriched detail, an abundant array of techniques, self-learning schemes, and practical exercises to enhance anger control capacity. Well done.”—Raymond W. Novaco, PhD, professor at the University of California, Irvine
Review
“In The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Anger, authors Chapman and Gratz present a nuanced view of anger, pointing out the benefits as well as the pitfalls of this complex and vexing emotion. The authors provide a thorough education on anger, beginning with a useful description of the many diagnoses and clinical presentations that anger often accompanies. They then walk readers through the components of anger, vulnerability factors for anger, keys to recognizing anger, and consequences of anger. They include strategies for increasing commitment to changing it, describe a range of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills for reducing it, provide methods to express it appropriately, offer ways of changing thinking that fuels it, and, importantly, suggest ways to repair relationships after inevitable anger ‘slipups’ occur. The book includes relevant case vignettes and numerous easy-to-use worksheets that help readers engage with and apply the material. Chapman and Gratz have produced a work in easy-to-understand, clear language that makes behavior therapy principles and DBT skills for the emotion of anger readily accessible to readers. I highly recommend their insightful and helpful book!”—Jill Rathus, PhD, professor of psychology at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University, and codirector of Cognitive Behavioral Associates in Great Neck, NY
Synopsis
First developed for treating borderline personality disorder, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) has proven effective as treatment for a range of other mental health problems, especially for those characterized by out-of-control emotions. Tens of thousands of individuals around the world are receiving DBT or participating in DBT-based support groups, yet to date there are few resources available to help them learn core DBT skills. This book, a collaborative effort from several of New Harbinger's most esteemed authors, fills a conspicuous gap in the DBT literature. It offers general readers and professionals alike straightforward, step-by-step exercises for learning and putting into practice the four core DBT skills: mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance. Whether used to support work done in therapy or as the basis for self-help, this workbook will bring DBT to readers with unrivaled clarity and effectiveness.
Synopsis
By a distinguished team of authors, The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook offers readers unprecedented access to the core skills of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), formerly available only through complicated professional books and a small handful of topical workbooks. These straightforward, step-by-step exercises will bring DBT core skills to thousands who need it.
Synopsis
In the tradition of ACT Made Simple, DBT Made Simple is a manual for therapists seeking to understand and apply the four dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills in individual therapy. DBT is an effective treatment for borderline personality disorder, self-injury, chemical dependency, trauma related to sexual abuse, and various mood disorders.
Synopsis
Written by Blaise Aguirre—a prominent psychiatrist specializing in the treatment of borderline personality disorder (BPD)—Mindfulness for Borderline Personality Disorder offers a new, mindfulness-based approach to emotion regulation and the common symptoms associated with BPD. The mindfulness treatments outlined in this book are based on the author's highly successful program at Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital, and are drawn from dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), a proven-effective treatment for BPD.
Synopsis
If you are like many others living with borderline personality disorder (BPD), you know what its like to be overwhelmed by intense and fluctuating emotions; to have difficulty with relationships; and to constantly struggle with troubling thoughts and behaviors. BPD can be especially difficult to treat, though there are ways to gain control over your symptoms and live a happier, healthier life.
Expanding on the core skill of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), Mindfulness for Borderline Personality Disorder will help you target and successfully manage many of the familiar symptoms of BPD. Inside, you will learn the basics of mindfulness through specific exercises, and will gain powerful insight through real-life stories from people who have BPD. If you are ready to take that first step on the path toward wellness, this book will be your guide.
Synopsis
Originally developed for the treatment of borderline personality disorder, dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT, has rapidly become one of the most popular and most effective treatments for all mental health conditions rooted in out-of-control emotions. However, there are limited resources for psychologists seeking to use DBT skills with individual clients. In the tradition of ACT Made Simple, DBT Made Simple provides clinicians with everything they need to know to start using DBT in the therapy room.
The first part of this book briefly covers the theory and research behind DBT and explains how DBT differs from traditional cognitive behavioral therapy approaches. The second part focuses on strategies professionals can use in individual client sessions, while the third section teaches the four skills modules that form the backbone of DBT: core mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. The book includes handouts, case examples, and example therapist-client dialogue—everything clinicians need to equip their clients with these effective and life-changing skills.
Synopsis
Anger is a natural, human emotion. But chronic anger can throw life out of balance and wreak havoc on relationships with family, friends, romantic partners, and work colleagues. The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Anger offers powerful, proven-effective dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) skills to help readers understand and manage anger. With this workbook as their guide, readers will learn to move past anger and start living better lives.
Synopsis
Do you struggle with anger? Is it hurting your relationships and holding you back from living the life you want? This book offers powerful, proven-effective dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) skills to help you understand and manage anger before it gets the better of you.
Anger is a natural human emotion, and everyone feels it at some point in their lives. But if you suffer from chronic anger, it can throw your life out of balance and wreak havoc on relationships with family, friends, romantic partners, and work colleagues. So, how can you get your anger under control before it causes real consequences?
Written by two world-renowned researchers in the field of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Anger offers evidence-based skills designed to help you understand, accept, and regulate chronic anger and other intense emotions. DBT is a powerful and proven-effective treatment for regulating intense emotions such as anger. With its dialectical focus on acceptance and change, its roots in basic behavioral and emotion science, and its practical, easy-to-use skills, DBT provides a unique and effective approach for understanding and managing anger.
If you're ready to move past your anger once and for alland start living a better lifethis book will show you how.
Synopsis
Millions of Americans suffer from emotion regulation disorders, such as borderline personality disorder (BPD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and severe depression. Developed by foreword writer Marsha Linehan, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a clinically proven, evidence-based treatment for intense emotions. This is the first consumer-friendly book to offer Linehan’s new mindfulness skills to help readers move past harmful emotions and experience self-acceptance.
Synopsis
The Mindfulness Solution for Intense Emotions offers breakthrough, new mindfulness skills and exercises drawn from dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to help you move past harmful emotions.
If you suffer from intense emotions, you are not alone. Millions of Americans are diagnosed with emotion regulation disorders, such as borderline personality disorder (BPD) and other comorbid conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and severe depression. Developed by Marsha Linehan, DBT is a clinically proven, evidence-based treatment for intense emotions that can help you start feeling better right away. This is the first consumer-friendly book to offer Linehan’s new mindfulness skills to help you take control of your emotions, once and for all.
In this book, you’ll learn seven powerful skills that highlight the unique connection between mindfulness and emotion regulation. Each skill is designed to help you find focus in the present moment, reduce impulsive behavior, and increase a sense of connection to your true self, even during times of extreme stress or difficulty.
You can feel calmer, more grounded, and centered. If you’re ready, the mindfulness practices in this book will help you move away from a chaotic, emotion-driven life and cultivate a focused, intentional one.
About the Author
Alexander L. Chapman, PhD, RPsych, is a psychologist and professor in the department of psychology at Simon Fraser University (SFU), as well as president of the DBT Centre of Vancouver. Chapman directs the Personality and Emotion Research Lab where he studies the role of emotion regulation in borderline personality disorder (BPD), self-harm, impulsivity, and other behavioral problems. His research is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Chapman received the Young Investigator’s Award of the National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder in 2007, the Canadian Psychological Association’s (CPA) Scientist Practitioner Early Career Award, and a Career Investigator Award from the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research. He has coauthored eight books—three of which received the 2012 Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) Self-Help Book Seal of Merit Award. Chapman is committed to bringing knowledge and skills from psychological science to people who need help managing their emotions. He has been practicing mindfulness for over fifteen years, practices martial arts, and enjoys hiking, skiing, reading, and spending time with his wonderful wife and two sons.
Kim L. Gratz, PhD, is professor of psychiatry and human behavior at the University of Mississippi Medical Center where she serves as director of the division of gender, sexuality, and health, as well as director of both personality disorders research and the Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Clinic. Gratz received the Young Investigator’s Award of the National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder in 2005, and the Mid-Career Investigator Award of the North American Society for the Study of Personality Disorders in 2015. She has written numerous journal articles and book chapters on borderline personality disorder (BPD), deliberate self-harm, and emotion regulation (among other topics), and is coauthor of four books on BPD, self-harm, and DBT, including The Borderline Personality Disorder Survival Guide, Borderline Personality Disorder, Freedom from Self-Harm, and The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Anxiety. Three of these books have received the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) Self-Help Book Seal of Merit Award. Gratz currently serves as principal investigator or coinvestigator on several large federal grants, including multiple grants from the National Institutes of Health.
Marsha M. Linehan, PhD, ABPP, is professor of psychology and director of the Behavioral Research and Therapy Clinics (BRTC) at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. She is author of Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder and Skills Training Manual for Treating Borderline Personality Disorder.
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