Together and Alone
For DBT therapists shaped by DBT as clients & the teams they work with
This website is a space for DBT therapists who have also been DBT clients to explore the value they bring to their teams, to consider whether to share their experience, and to help teams recognize the strengths that come from it.
In this day and age, it is widely accepted that many therapists also have received their own therapy and dialectical behavior therapists are no different. Symptoms often associated with DBT, such as self-harm and suicidal ideation, are often not talked about as possible for therapists to experience. Yet, many DBT therapists have personal experiences with these symptoms and have been DBT clients. These DBT clinicians continue to wrestle with whether, how, and when to disclose their histories particularly to their teams, supervisors, or training programs. As DBT therapists, who work to destigmatize these behaviors for our clients, we also need to come together and recognize how we perpetuate the stigmatization within our own community.
Therapists are human too. We are not immune to our own mental health struggles.
Why DBT is Often Misunderstood
DBT was originally developed to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD). BPD has been heavily stigmatized, which has shaped how DBT and the people who use it are often viewed. ​
Assumptions often shape how people with BPD are seen by both others and themselves. Assumptions are:
Common
Influential
Not the whole story
What BPD Actually is...
Deep fear of abandonment and rejection
Emotions that feel intense, fast-moving, and hard to regulate
Shifts in view of self and relationships
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Impulsive behaviors when overwhelmed
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High sensitivity to their environment
These are skills-based challenges, not character flaws. DBT was created to teach skills and reduce these symptoms.
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When people with BPD learn skills and reduce or eliminate symptoms, they no longer meet criteria for the diagnosis.
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People with BPD, and those who have previously met criteria, are fully capable of practicing as competent, ethical, and skilled therapists.
These assumptions influence not only how clients are seen, also how clinicians with experience as DBT clients are understood. For many DBT therapists, the draw to this work begins with a personal connection as a participant from a study noted.
“I think all of us sort of know, in an unspoken way, that a lot of people are drawn to DBT because there's some personal connection to it.” - Dana
Learn More
"For Clinicians" offers a space for DBT therapists who have also been DBT clients to reflect on their identities, explore common myths, consider decisions around disclosure, and recognize the unique value they bring to their teams. Click the image above to learn more.
"For Teams" provides guidance for DBT consultation teams seeking to support colleagues who have also been DBT clients. This section explores ways to build a validating, cohesive team culture while also addressing potential concerns that may arise. Click the image above to learn more.