On Philosophical Approaches to DBT

DBT, at its core, is a modality of therapy that is influenced by a number of philosophies and belief systems. While it is grounding in clinical experiences and practices, it is also informed by Buddhism, religion, and philosophy. These approaches have as much of a home in DBT as a clinical trial or research study does. As such, many different ideas influence the nature of DBT and its application to various situations. 

The main idea that influences DBT is Balance. I’ve mentioned in the past that the idea of “walking the middle road” is at the core of my beliefs both clinically and personally. Moderation, at its core, is the peaceful balance between two ends of a polarity. In order for DBT to be most effective, one has to be able to balance the idea that most things in life exist on a spectrum and that extremes are rarely helpful. 

In addition to the facets of Wise Mind that we have talked about, I also want to introduce another synthetical approach of Doing Mind vs. Being Mind. 

Like Emotion and Reasonable Mind, Doing and Being Mind represent two ends of a polarity. Similarly, we can assume that both ends of the spectrum have their uses and effective situations in which to use them and that balance between the two is often the goal. 

Doing Mind is defined by the following ideas: 

• Discriminating, ambitious, and goal-oriented. 

• Focused on problem solving and achieving goals. 

• Perhaps this is the mind you access at work, or when doing chores. 

Meanwhile, Being Mind is defined by the following: 

• Curious, present-oriented, and being in a state of doing nothing 

• You are focused on the uniqueness of each moment, letting go of a need to accomplish a goal or task. 

• Perhaps this is the mind you access while listening to music, reading a book, or playing a video game. 

As with Wise Mind in other situations, Wise Mind here is defined as being able to let go of having to achieve a goal while also doing everything you can to accomplish a goal. Paradoxical, right? 

Consider this: I usually spend an hour and half in the gym up to four or five times per week. My goals include being able to rehabilitate a shoulder injury I have, increase my lifting capabilities, and develop more muscle hypertrophy and definition. But if I go to the gym obsessed about the meal I ate earlier in the day being a detriment to my progress (i.e. letting go of the need to accomplish my overall goal) I cannot begin to focus on what I need to do to accomplish the goal. By enhancing our awareness of the present moment, I can recognize that each muscle fiber activated during an exercise, each rep I complete, each set I finish, and each workout I complete are all building blocks toward my larger goal of rehabilitating my shoulder, developing more strength, and developing more muscle. By letting go of the obsessive yearning I sometimes believe I need to accomplish my goal, I can more fully throw myself into the goal I am working on. 

Over the next week, see if you can identify goals that you are obsessing over and inadvertently throwing yourself off progress from. Finding the synthesis between Doing and Being Mind can help you more effectively reach your goals. 

Next week, we will begin our dive into interpersonal skills and how to more effectively navigate your relationships. Stay tuned for more excellent tips that DBT offers in topics such as: 

• Arguing more effectively

• Learning how to ask for what we want and need from our important relationships. 

• Making and keeping friends and others!