This webinar is being provided in partnership with the Center for Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Description
Changing long-lasting behavior is no easy feat, and can be especially challenging when working to help clients build commitment, intention and drive to change chronic, maladaptive behaviors. As providers, we are frequently asking clients to face thoughts, emotions, or situations they fear, to “give up” or change behaviors that are getting in the way of their goals though provide them immediate relief/coping (e.g., self-harm, substance use), and work towards building lives worth living even though they may feel hopeless (especially if they have been through many psychotherapies before with little progress). From a dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) perspective, commitment to therapy and treatment goals is not a simple yes/no “just do it” vocalization, but is viewed as a cluster of thoughts, intentions, verbalizations, and actions throughout the therapy process that are important to strengthen and maintain. This webinar will focus on understanding and teaching commitment strategies from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (Linehan, 1993) which can help strengthen clients resolve and commitment. It will also introduce stylistic strategies (reciprocal communication, irreverent communication), or in other words how the therapist communicates and uses strategies (e.g., style, tone, responsiveness).