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.

Brave Young Lady Conquors Depression and Social Anxiety - A Book Review

A Way Out: A Memoir of Conquering Depression and Social Anxiety

Author: Michelle Balge

Publisher: Amazon Digital Services LLC

Publication Date: February 27, 2018

Pages: 202 Pages



About the Author
Michelle Balge is a mental health advocate, web designer and animal lover. She holds an Honors BA in Sociology with a concentration in Critical Animal Studies, and will receive a Web Design Graduate Certificate in June, 2018.

Mental Illness Is Real
Michelle Balge provides a raw, unfiltered look into the world of mental illness.

She shares the thoughts that almost destroyed her. Suicidal thoughts invaded her mind and cast a dark shadow over her existence. They threatened to steal her future.

Michelle is a fighter. She will not surrender to the illness and let it control her life.

Here are some resources and techniques that helped the author battle her mental illness;

• See a doctor/therapist.
• Medication.
• Healthy eating.
• Exercise.
• Breathing techniques.
• Have a good support system.
• Volunteering or joining something that interests you where you can meet people.
• Meditation and mindfulness.
• Group therapy.
• Maintain a regular sleep schedule.
  

Michelle Balge learned that her mental illness can be treated and she has hope for the future.

My Thoughts
This book was difficult to read. The author's goal was to be completely transparent and share her experiences in a way that would make a difference.

Ms. Balge displayed persistence, courage and determination in her fight with depression and social anxiety during her childhood and into young adulthood. She would not allow fear to win. She set out to educate herself and find the professional help she needed to overcome and conquer the demons in her mind.

This is a very timely story in the aftermath of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. We can no longer afford to bury our heads in the sand and ignore the problem of mental illness in our society. 

Ms. Balge demonstrates a tremendous amount of insight into her illness at a very young age. She will conquer her depression and social anxiety and succeed in helping herself and others.

MY RATING: 5 STARS OUT OF 5

FYI ~ I received a free digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair review.

Thank you for visiting my blog and reading this review. Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below or tweet me @JanetteFuller.
I want to hear from you!