#11: Radical Acceptance

#11: Radical Acceptance

Author: Bay Area DBT & Couples Counseling Center August 21, 2019 Duration: 31:33
The Skillful Podcast
HealthHealth & FitnessEducationFitnessMentalSelf Improvement

Today, Marielle and Ed discuss the skill of Radical Acceptance. Radical Acceptance is a Distress Tolerance skill that helps you stop fighting reality, however painful that reality is. When you can fully open up and radically accept what is happening in the present moment, suffering decreases. 

Show Highlights: 

  • Getting too focused on change can sometimes backfire
  • Radical acceptance is not against change
  • Radical acceptance is different than plain old acceptance
  • Our instinct is often to fight painful things that are happening
  • Radical acceptance is not negating a sense of justice or fairness
  • Denial of reality can keep us from taking steps towards change
  • Acceptance does not equal approval
  • Accepting painful things can be a process
  • The first step in moving forward from painful things is accepting that they did happen
  • Sadness often comes up when we radically accept
  • Pain is a part of life for everyone - it can't be avoided
  • It's a fallacy to think that if you accept things you don't like about yourself you won't change
  • Radical acceptance doesn't mean we don't have preferences
  • We need to radically accept the past
  • If you are practicing Radical Acceptance of something in the future make sure you are only accepting known limitations
  • Willing Hands is a skill that can help you Radically Accept
  • To practice Willing Hands, turn your palms towards the sky and relax your arms
  • When we fight reality, we are often holding a lot of tension in our bodies

Links & Resources

www.bayareadbtcc.com

DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets, Second Edition

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Please note that questions, and this podcast in general, are not a substitute for individual mental health treatment.


Hosted by the clinicians at the Bay Area DBT & Couples Counseling Center, The Skillful Podcast is a practical guide for anyone feeling stuck in their emotional patterns or relationships. Instead of abstract theory, each episode breaks down tangible skills from two powerful frameworks: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Radically-Open DBT (RO-DBT). You'll hear straightforward explanations of concepts like mindfulness, distress tolerance, and emotional regulation, but also learn about the often-overlooked skills of openness, flexibility, and social connectedness that RO-DBT emphasizes. The focus is always on application-how to take these ideas off the therapist's couch and weave them into your daily interactions and internal world. Whether navigating personal stress, a challenging conversation, or the pursuit of a more fulfilling life, this podcast offers concrete tools to try in real time. It’s a resource for building resilience from the inside out, episode by episode. Tuning in feels less like a lecture and more like a thoughtful consultation, where complex psychological wisdom is translated into actionable steps for reducing suffering and fostering deeper connections with others and yourself.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 61

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The Skillful Podcast
Podcast Episodes
#31: Self-Soothing Revisited [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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#30: What Happens When You Have an Emotion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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#29: Using DBT Skills in Anti-Racist Work [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Today Marielle and Ed offer ways to use DBT skills to support emotional equilibrium during a time where systemic anti-black racism is being confronted and discussed in new and necessary ways. This episode is not about ho…
#28: Listener Questions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Today Marielle and Ed answer listener questions. The first question is from a listener in Sweden about how to cope with anger at others for not taking the COVID-19 pandemic seriously. Question two is about how to use DEA…
#27: Radical Acceptance During a Pandemic [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:15
Today's show revisits Radical Acceptance in the face of a global pandemic. Marielle and Ed discuss how they are using this skill (or not using it!) during this time. Ed is using Radical Acceptance a lot lately, as he fee…
#25: Coping With COVID-19 [Part 2] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:24
Today, Marielle and Ed continue to discuss DBT skills to cope during a pandemic. We are all going through a collective trauma and need extra support. The DBT skill called Check The Facts is explored. We also explore the…
#24: Coping With COVID-19 [Part 1] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:55
In today's episode, Marielle and Ed explore skills to help you cope with your emotions as we collectively face a pandemic. Many of you may be feeling intense distress on a regular basis during these uncertain times. DBT…
#23: Pros and Cons [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:57
Today's show covers the DBT skill called Pros and Cons. While most of us have already done informal pro and con lists in our heads when facing a tough decision, the DBT take on Pros and Cons is a little different. Pros a…
#22: Build Mastery and Cope Ahead [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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In today's episode, Marielle and Ed discuss the emotion regulation skills of Build Mastery and Cope Ahead. These are future-oriented skills that involve some planning to carry out. Build Mastery is a way to strengthen yo…

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