Psychologists Off the Clock

109. How to Loosen Up and Be Less Overcontrolled: Radically Open DBT with Hope Arnold (part 2)

16 snips
Oct 25, 2019
Hope Arnold, a Senior Clinician and founder of RO DBT Denver, dives into Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy. She discusses how excessive self-control can affect relationships and well-being. Discover the importance of 'social signaling' and how embracing ordinariness can enhance personal growth. Hope highlights the role of mirror neurons in therapy sessions and introduces playful techniques to lighten rigid self-perceptions. Her insights reveal a fresh perspective on emotional flexibility and the challenges of being overcontrolled.
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ADVICE

Practice Being Willing To Be Wrong

  • Cultivate willingness to be wrong and approach distressing situations to learn and grow.
  • Practice radical openness actively to increase happiness and relational closeness.
INSIGHT

Work With Biology, Not Just Thoughts

  • Over-control is a biological temperament and therapy must work with biology rather than just cognitive techniques.
  • RO DBT focuses on activating safety systems (ventral vagal) to enable social behavior before cognition catches up.
ANECDOTE

Therapist Face Can Signal Threat

  • Tom Lynch noticed a client interpreted a concerned therapist face as evidence of failure, not empathy.
  • He shifted therapist demeanor to relaxed, chatty signals to help clients feel safe and engage.
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