Service Description

If you have a loved one who is habitually overcontrolling, they probably hold very high expectations of themselves—and most likely of others around them. You may feel like you are caught in an unspoken struggle over making you wrong and them right. Their black-and-white rigid thinking close off any consideration of your perspective. This kind of relationship can be intensely frustrating and painful. Frequent relationship ruptures or even estrangement are not uncommon. Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO DBT) was developed specifically to treat overcontrol across diagnostic labels. Common examples of overcontrol disorders include chronic depression, anorexia nervosa, obsessive-compulsive disorder, treatment-resistent anxiety, maladaptive perfectionism and autistic spectrum neurodivergence. Borderline Personality Disorder can include behavior that is impulsive and chaotic with little self-control. On the other hand a person with BPD can also be avoidant, emotionally inhibited, rigid, rule-bound, and even relatively successful at work. One pole represents undercontrol and the other pole represents overcontrol. In fact, many people with BPD who refuse treatment and deny responsibility for their problems tend to move toward maladaptive overcontrol over time. While this does reduce the frequency and intensity of emotional crises, it leaves a person isolated and lonely with impoverished interpersonal relationships. Emotional leakage still occurs, leading to more isolation. Depressive episodes may increase due to a lack of social interactions and interdependencies that are so important for feeling safe, connected, and engaged. Information, education, and skills for families who have a loved one with overcontrol tendencies are particularly important. Many of these individuals will refuse any therapeutic intervention, so understanding and responding effectively are things that you can do for yourself and your relationship. It may also help to minimize the possibility of complete estrangement. This is an introductory class to help family members understand disorders of overcontrol, assessments for overcontrol, and the orientation and principles of RO DBT. If you cannot attend, the classes will be available to view online at any time until the end of 2024. These classes will be pre-requisite for additional RO DBT workshops to be offered in the future.

Cancellation Policy

Sorry! No cancellations with less than 48 hours (2 days) notice.

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