Among Therapists: Practical Tips

In this episode, Dr. Barbara Rothbaum explains what an in vivo exposure hierarchy is and how to create it. An in vivo hierarchy is an essential tool for guiding exposure work and evaluating progress in a quantitative way. Faculty: Barbara Rothbaum, Ph. D. Host: Jessica Díaz, M.D. Script Editor: David Barragán, M.A. See more about " Learning Prolonged Exposure for PTSD: A Comprehensive Guide for Cl...

In this episode, Dr. Stephanie Vaughn explains how intersession contact works from a DBT perspective, including its two main purposes and the rationale behind them. She also explores the factors affecting its frequency and length, and why disturbances in intersession contact are considered therapy-interfering behaviors.   Faculty: Stephanie Vaughn, Psy. D. Host: Jessica Díaz, M.D. Script Editor: A...

In this episode, Dr. D. J. Moran talks about experiential avoidance and how it can be an obstacle to living a meaningful life. From an ACT perspective, a flexible life doesn't rely on avoiding uncomfortable feelings, but rather embracing them and developing effective behaviors so we can act according to our values.  Faculty: D. J. Moran, Ph. D.  Host: Jessica Díaz, M.D.  Script Editor: David Barra...

In this episode of our series "DBT Expert Interviews: From Trauma to Eating Disorders," Dr. Kirby Reutter and Amy Dols, LPCC, explore the most common therapy-interfering behaviors in this population and how to address them using an adapted version of behavioral chain analysis.  Faculty: Kirby Reutter, Ph. D., Amy Dols, LPCC  Host: Jessica Díaz, M.D.  Script Editor: Jazmin Soto, L.Psy.  Learn more...

In this episode of our series "The ACT for OCD Toolbox: A Guide for Therapists," we talk about why obsessions aren't the source of the problem in OCD. The problem is the way people interact with them and try to solve them. Dr. Morrison uses 'The Leaky Pipe' metaphor to explain this concept experientially.  Faculty: Kate Morrison, Ph. D.  Hosts: Jessica Díaz, M.D.  Script Editor: Jazmin Soto, LPsy....

This episode explains the practical value of creative hopelessness when working with PTSD clients. Dr. Sonja Batten provides practical tips on how to use creative hopelessness to enhance willingness, and employs the quicksand metaphor as a practical tool for explaining it. Faculty: Sonja V. Batten, Ph. D. Host: Jessica Díaz, M.D. Script Editor: Anderson García, Ph. D. Learn more about "ACT for Tra...

In this episode, Dr. Barbara Rothbaum shares an overview of in vivo exposure and explains how it promotes therapeutic change when addressing PTSD. In vivo exposure blocks negative reinforcement, previously fostered by avoidance, promoting self-agency and the understanding that feared situations are not dangerous per se. Faculty: Barbara Rothbaum, Ph. D. Host: Jessica Díaz, M.D. Script Editor: Davi...

In this episode, distress tolerance skills are examined through the dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) lens. They should be used during crises, and as a way to avoid difficult outcomes, but not as a permanent solution as this could lead to avoidance. They are based on the idea of acceptance as a core concept in DBT. Faculty: Stephanie Vaughn, Psy. D. Host: Jessica Díaz, M.D. Script Editor: Anderso...

In this episode, Dr. D. J. Moran, Ph. D., talks about the six elements of the ACT inhexaflex model. Each of the six elements of the hexaflex model (acceptance, defusion, self-as-context, committed action, values, and mindfulness) has its opposite that explains what leads a client toward inflexible psychological repertoires.  Faculty: D. J. Moran, Ph. D. Host: Jessica Díaz, M.D. Script Editor: Davi...

In this episode of our series "DBT Expert Interviews: From Trauma to Eating Disorders," Dr. Kirby Reutter and Amy Dols, LPCC, explore how to teach and model validation with clients with substance use issues. They provide model examples of its use in group therapy as a precursor to improving self-validation. Faculty: Kirby Reutter, Ph. D., Amy Dols, LPCC. Host: Jessica Díaz, M.D. Script Editor: Jaz...

In this episode of our series "The ACT for OCD Toolbox: A Guide for Therapists," we talk about experiential avoidance and its role in OCD. Experiential avoidance refers to an unwillingness to feel our internal experiences, and the ways we might therefore take steps away from them. Faculty: Kate Morrison, Ph. D. Host: Jessica Díaz, M.D. Script Editor: Jazmin Soto, L.Psy. Learn more about " The ACT...

In this episode, Dr. Sonja Batten discusses practical strategies and relevant concepts to help increase a client's willingness and reduce their avoidance behaviors. With PTSD clients, avoidance is at the center of their symptoms and is a crucial issue to work on in therapy. Faculty: Sonja V. Batten, Ph. D. Host: Jessica Díaz, M.D. Script Editor: Anderson García, Ph. D. Learn more about " ACT for T...

In this episode, Dr. Barbara Rothbaum shares a practical exercise for breathing retraining in prolonged exposure (PE) therapy. She guides us through the rationale of breathing retraining, and the exercise itself, as if we were in a PE session. Faculty: Barbara Rothbaum, Ph. D. Host: Jessica Díaz, M.D. Script Editor: David Barragán, M.A. Find out more about " Learning Prolonged Exposure for PTSD: A...

In this episode, Dr. Stephanie Vaughn explains how the DBT hierarchy can be used to select and prioritize treatment targets and goals. She provides practical examples and describes the three types of behavior included in the hierarchy. Faculty: Stephanie Vaughn, Psy. D. Host: Jessica Díaz, M.D. Script Editor: Anderson García, Ph. D. Learn more about " DBT in Practice: Mastering the Essentials " an...

In this episode, D. J. Moran, Ph. D., outlines which information should be included in an ACT case conceptualization. Dr. Moran also explains the importance of learning to conceptualize our cases, as part of becoming more effective therapists. Faculty: D. J. Moran, Ph. D. Hosts: Jessica Díaz, M.D., Flavio Guzman, M.D. Script Editor: David Barragán, M.A. Learn more about Demystifying ACT: A Practic...

In this episode of our series "DBT Expert Interviews: From Trauma to Eating Disorders," Dr. Kirby Reutter and Dr. Michael Maslar discuss the dynamics of interpersonal effectiveness and validation in the treatment of eating disorders. Faculty: Kirby Reutter, Ph. D., Michael Maslar, Psy. D. Host: Jessica Díaz, M.D. Script Editor: Jazmin Soto, L.Psy. Learn more about " DBT Expert Interviews: From Tra...

In this episode of our series "The ACT for OCD Toolbox: A Guide for Therapists," we talk about how to describe the ACT framework to clients with OCD. Dr. Kate Morrison explains OCD and its main components in an ACT-consistent manner, describing such concepts as the automaticity of thoughts and internal experiences.  Faculty: Kate Morrison, Ph. D. Host: Jessica Díaz, M.D. Script Editor: Jazmin Soto...

Dr. Sonja Batten explains how values can be used as a cornerstone for motivating clients to examine painful memories, and to go through all the difficulties and obstacles attached to improving their symptoms. Practical examples and the rationale are provided to allow clinicians to have a solid understanding of this tool.  Faculty: Sonja V. Batten, Ph. D. Host: Jessica Díaz, M.D. Script Editor: And...

In this episode, Dr. Barbara Rothbaum talks about the first steps in prolonged exposure (PE) therapy. Motivation and problem solving for successful therapy are important aspects to address at this stage of treatment. Faculty: Barbara Rothbaum, Ph. D. Host: Jessica Díaz, M.D. Script Editor: David Barragán, M.A. Learn more about " Learning Prolonged Exposure for PTSD: A Comprehensive Guide for Clini...

This episode explores the role of a life worth living in selecting and prioritizing targets and goals during therapy. According to DBT, this idea must always be at center stage, since there is no better therapy outcome than improving clients' lives, always in accord with their own values.  Faculty: Stephanie Vaughn, Ph. D. Host: Jessica Díaz, M.D. Script Editor: Anderson García, Ph. D. Learn more...

In this episode, Dr. D. J. Moran explains the final element of the hexaflex model: committed action. Since ACT comes from the behavioral tradition, its ultimate goal is behavioral change. Committed action means acting in the service of our values, even in the face of obstacles.   Faculty: D. J. Moran, Ph. D. Host: Jessica Díaz, M.D. Script Editor: David Barragán, M.A. Learn more about Demystifying...

In this episode of our series "DBT Expert Interviews: From Trauma to Eating Disorders," Dr. Kirby Reutter and Dr. Michael Maslar explore how to apply distress tolerance techniques in treating eating disorders, and their connection with mindfulness.  Faculty: Kirby Reutter, Ph. D., Michael Maslar, Psy. D.  Host: Jessica Díaz, M.D.  Script Editor: Jazmin Soto, L.Psy.  Learn more about "DBT Expert In...

In this episode of our series "The ACT for OCD Toolbox: A Guide for Therapists," we review how to assess treatment progress in ACT for obsessive-compulsive disorder. There are different ways to measure the effectiveness of the therapy, such as behavioral tracking, assessing psychological flexibility, and living through values.  Faculty: Kate Morrison, Ph. D.  Host: Jessica Díaz, M.D.  Script Edito...

This episode describes the flexible protocol or session structure used in ACT for PTSD. Dr. Sonja V. Batten describes how therapists should use both adherence and competence when employing this or any other therapeutic approach. She also emphasizes the roles of flexibility and knowledge within the ACT therapeutic stance.  Faculty: Sonja V. Batten, Ph. D.  Host: Jessica Díaz, M.D.  Script Editor: A...

In this episode, Dr. Barbara Rothbaum shares an overview of the structure and main components of prolonged exposure (PE) therapy. The PE manual gives a detailed structure of the therapy process, and of each session promoting effectiveness in the processing of traumatic experiences.  Faculty: Barbara Rothbaum, Ph. D.  Host: Jessica Díaz, M.D.  Script Editor: David Barragán, M.A.  Learn more about "...