Building a Life Worth Living

 

Title: Building a Life Worth Living; A Memoir

Author: Marsha M. Linehan

Publisher: Random House

Publication Date: January 7, 2020

Length: 343 Pages

Audible: 12 Hours and 19 Minutes

About the Author
Marsha M. Linehan, Ph.D., ABPP, is the developer of Dialectical Behavior Therapy and a professor of psychology, adjunct professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and director of the Behavioral Research and Therapy Clinics at the University of Washington.

"You can't think yourself into new ways of acting; you can only act yourself into new ways of thinking."
Dr. Marsha Linehan shares her life story and how she developed Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). 
The four skills in DBT are;

• Mindfulness
• Distress Tolerance
• Emotion Regulation
• Interpersonal Effectiveness

These skills are designed to assist people in managing behaviors, emotions, and thoughts.

My Thoughts
I was recently introduced to DBT while reading "DBT for Everyone" for Net Galley. I was curious to learn more about this therapy and I thought this book would provide good background information. The book exceeded all my expectations!

Dr. Linehan shares her life story from the time she was growing up in Oklahoma to her long distinguished career as a psychologist and mental health researcher.

When the author was 18 years old, she entered a psychiatric hospital and stayed there for two years. She was diagnosed with schizophrenia but later believed she was actually suffering from borderline personality disorder. The time Dr. Linehan spent in the hospital inspired her to devote her life to helping other women who were suffering the way she had suffered. She taught her clients specific skills that could be used to build a life worth living. 

This book is inspiring and informative. It is written in a manner that is understandable to the lay reader. Dr. Linehan's DBT therapy offers skills and strategies that can be used by anyone who is interested in emotional intelligence. The book has prepared me to investigate DBT skills in greater detail. I listened to the audiobook on Audible and hope to revisit the information in print format.

My Rating: 5 Stars Out Of 5

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DBT for Everyone - Book Review

 

Title: DBT for Everyone; A Guide to the Perks, Pitfalls, and Possibilities of DBT for Better Mental Health

Authors: Michelle Henderson and Kate Sherman

Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Pub.

Publication Date: November 21, 2023

Length: 208 Pages

About the Authors
Kate Sherman and Michelle Henderson are Licensed Mental Health Counselors and hosts of the popular podcasts, DBT and Me and The Couch and the Chair. They both have personal and professional experience of using DBT skills and are passionate about communicating the benefits of DBT more widely.

DBT - Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Dialectical behavior therapy is an evidence-based psychotherapy that began with efforts to treat personality disorders and interpersonal conflicts. DBT skills training is made up of four modules;

• Mindfulness
• Distress tolerance
• Emotion regulation
• Interpersonal effectiveness

The authors share their knowledge and experiences using DBT therapy in their mental health counseling practices.

My Thoughts

This is the first book I have read on dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and I think it is a wonderful resource for anyone seeking information on the subject. I took my time and read small sections at a time and highlighted segments that I wanted to remember.

The authors explained all the skills that are involved in the four modules that I named above. They shared the pitfalls and benefits of the skills and provided tips from their personal experiences. Many times, Kate and Michelle would emphasize different things that they considered important about a skill.

I found it very interesting that the DBT skills can be used by anyone who wants to improve their emotional intelligence and create a life worth living. I have read many books on mindfulness, but the other three modules contained skills that I will definitely use in my efforts to improve my relationships

My Rating: 5 Stars Out of 5

Thank you to Net Galley for an excellent reading experience.

The Power of Empathy - Book Review

Title: The Power of Empathy; Be the Friend You've Always Wanted

Author: Ruth Maille

Illustrator: Prayan Animation Studio

Publisher: BooksGoSocial

Publication Date: October 12, 2023

Length: 36 Pages

Children's Fiction

About the Author
Ruth Maille is the author of the multi-award-winning books in "The Power of…" series. Her interactive books focus on character traits that are essential to social and emotional learning.

Empathy is a Caring SuperPower
Orbit is a storyteller who looks like a walking world globe. He visits the children in a park and tells them about a superpower called EMPATHY. The children learn that empathy means understanding and also caring about how someone else is feeling.

The children also learn why it is important to talk about our emotions. There are both happy and unhappy emotions. 

Before leaving, Orbit reminds the children to be the friend they've always wanted.

My Thoughts
This book is a wonderful story to teach children about empathy. I like the way the characters are a diverse group of different races, nationalities, and children with physical disabilities.

The illustrations are beautiful and add value to the text. 

Empathy is not something that comes naturally to everyone. However, it is a skill that can be developed and improved over time. By practicing empathy, we can improve our emotional intelligence and build more meaningful relationships with others. 

Recommended for children of all ages.

MY RATING: 5 Stars Out Of 5

Thank you to NetGalley for an excellent reading opportunity.

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A Book for Sensitive Children

 

Title: Sensitive

Author: Sara Levine

Illustrator: Mehrdokht Amini

Publisher: Carolrhoda Books

Publication Date: October 3, 2023

Length: 32 Pages

About the Author
Sara Levine is an author, educator, and veterinarian. Her book awards include AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books, the Utah Beehive Book Award, Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year, Cook Prize finalist for best STEM picture book, and the Mathical Book Award.

You Are Too Sensitive!
A young Asian-American girl comes to terms with the fact that she is sensitive.
The other children tease and taunt her for having thin skin and acting like a baby.
She learns that her feelings are real and she does not have to feel bad about her sensitivity. She writes her feelings out in a journal and realizes that being sensitive is actually her SUPERPOWER!
The author adds helpful tips for sensitive kids at the end of the story.

My Thoughts
I can relate to the girl in this story because I was also a sensitive child. The author does an amazing job illustrating in words and pictures the feelings a sensitive child deals with.

The mixed-media illustrations are outstanding and add great value to the text. 

I love the way the sensitive child writes in a journal to find joy and acceptance. She writes out her feelings and realizes that her sensitivity is not something to be ashamed of. 

This is a wonderful book to read-aloud to elementary school children. It could also be used by a counselor or mental health professional. I like everything about this story!!!

My Rating - Five Stars Out Of Five

Thank you to NetGalley for a wonderful reading opportunity.

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