The Skillful Podcast

#61: DBT Skills Group for Therapists

Are you a therapist who wants the experience of being in a DBT skills group yourself? Are you curious about how the skills can help YOU?   Marielle and Ed are startin

#60: Problem Solving

What DBT skill do you use when your emotion fits the facts? One option is to work on changing the facts. The skill of Problem Solving offers a structured framework to hel

#59: Willingness

Today's episode discusses the DBT skill of Willingness.   Willingness is one of the reality acceptance skills that we teach in Distress Tolerance. This skill can help

#58: Applying DEAR MAN in Difficult Interactions

Once you have grasp of the DEAR MAN skill, you might find yourself getting stuck when you try to use it in difficult interactions. Maybe the other person pushes back, tri

#57: Figuring Out How to Change Painful Emotions

Once you have a grasp of the change-oriented skills in DBT (such as Check the Facts, Opposite Action, and Problem Solving) it can be hard to figure out which one to use.

#56: Emotions Explained: Shame

Shame is one of the most painful emotions we can experience.    This episode explores what shame is, when the emotion is useful (and when it's not), and skills to hel

#55: Emotions Explained: Fear

Today's episode focuses on the emotion of fear. At its most fundamental, fear keeps us safe. It guides us to fight, flee, or freeze in the face of danger.   Often, th

#54: Emotions Explained: Anger

In this episode, Marielle and Ed discuss the emotion of anger. In its most useful form, anger moves us to protect and defend ourselves and those we care about.   Many

#53: Walking the Middle Path

When we find ourselves getting caught in extremes, the DBT skill called Walking the Middle Path helps us re-calibrate.   Use this skill when you notice you are caught

#52: Interpersonal Effectiveness Overview

This episode is an overview of the core Interpersonal Effectiveness skills in DBT, focusing on clarifying objectives, DEAR MAN, GIVE, and FAST.  There are a lot of acro

#51: How to Assert Yourself, Part 2

In Part 2 of How to Assert Yourself, Marielle and Ed discuss common interpersonal pitfalls in speaking up for yourself in relationships. Do you swallow your needs and t

#50: How to Assert Yourself, Part 1

Do you find it hard to speak up for yourself in relationships? If so, this 2-part series on how to assert yourself may help you understand why it can feel so hard to ask

#49: Dealing with Fears of Abandonment

In this episode, Marielle and Ed answer a listener's question about fears of abandonment when conflict arises in relationships. These fears go straight to the heart of ol

#48: Emotion Regulation Overview Part 2

This episode is the 2nd part of an overview of the Emotion Regulation skills in DBT, focusing on skills that can help you be in Emotion Mind less often. You can find part

#47: Emotion Regulation Overview Part 1

The Emotion Regulation skills in DBT offer lots of ways to help you identify and respond to emotions. Some of the Emotion Regulation skills focus on change, while others

#46: Don't Believe Everything You Think

This episode explores how to apply mindfulness skills to help you manage distressing thoughts using the DBT skill called Mindfulness of Current Thoughts. Thoughts can cau

#45: Soothing Trauma Symptoms with Elle Michel, LMFT

Today, Marielle interviews Elle Michel, LMFT, a therapist in Los Angeles who specializes in treating complex trauma. Elle uses a combination of modalities to treat trauma

#44: Working with Judgments

Today, we take a deep dive into working with judgments.  Judgments about ourselves and others can increase emotional suffering and negatively impact relationships. Judg

#43: Distress Tolerance Overview Part 2

The Distress Tolerance skills in DBT offer creative ways to get through challenging situations without making things worse.  In Part 2 of this overview of Distress Tole

#42: Distress Tolerance Overview Part 1

The Distress Tolerance skills in DBT offer creative ways to get through challenging situations without making things worse. Today's episode is Part 1 of an overview of Di