To Hell And Back
by Charlie SwensonTo Hell and Back by Charlie Swenson
Adapting DBT Skills When Working with Autistic Individuals – Episode 115
In this episode, the fourth in a series on autism and DBT, Charlie is again joined by Amara Brooke and Rachel Kraus, two DBT therapists who are autistic and who have subspecialties in working with autistic clients. Our focus here is entirely on the application and adaptation of DBT skills in the work with autistic individuals. Which skills work well as they are? Which skills require adaptation in order to work well with this population? Which skills can actually make things worse if you aren’t mindful of autistic features? Please rate, review, and write to me with comments and questions.
Challenging, Changing Course, Reframing. Irreverence in Therapy and Life – Episode 114
In this episode, Charlie explains, and gives lots of examples of, being irreverent in therapy. What is the essence? What is the point? Why is it important to do? Why is it hard to do? What are the forms irreverence can take? What are some tips for becoming irreverent?
Top Ten Tips for Adapting DBT to Autistic Clients – Episode 113
Charlie moderates a discussion between Amara Brook and Rachel Kraus, both of whom are DBT-informed therapists with subspecialties treating autistic and ADHD individuals, as they come of with ten things to consider when adapting DBT to autism.
In the next episode after this one, the same guests will specifically address how to modify DBT skills in working with autistic clients.
Do we use DBT to target autism? No – Episode 112
Charlie talks further with Amara Brook about autism, neurodiversity, and DBT: how can DBT be adapted, not to target autism itself, but to help autistic folks succeed at their own life-worth-living goals; how can we apply DBT’s bio-social theory in understanding and treating autistic individuals; and what are the barriers for autistic individuals in becoming DBT therapists?
Autism, Neurodiversity and DBT – Episode 111
It seems that the world is paying more and more attention to autism in particular and neurodiversity in general.
Beginning with this episode, Charlie talks with Amara Brooke, Ph.D., about autism, neurodiversity, and ways of adapting DBT to help an autistic individual reach their life-worth living goals. Tune in for this three-episode special conversation, which will eventually lead to ten tips for adapting DBT therapy with autistic people, and then on to what is meant by the Universal Design for Learning.
Wise Mind – Episode 110
Charlie provides an in-depth discussion of WISE MIND as used in DBT. What is it, why is it so valuable, what are perspectives on it, what are its features, how do you access it and use it? He then discusses a painful example from his own life when he needed wise mind but failed to access it.
“As Bad A Year As It Was, It Was As Good As It Could Have Been” – Episode 109
In a manner that is absolutely true to these words from her DBT and life mentor, Seth Axelrod, Andrea Gold has completed her one year of prescribed treatment for breast cancer, with the best results one can hope for. Tune in to this episode to hear Andrea celebrate the completion of the year and reflect upon how she managed the suffering (a lot) and created fun and connection through it all (a lot). She brings an infectious and intelligent enthusiasm, an emotional and affiliative personality, and a bad-ass exposure and DBT lifestyle, to rather grim cancer-related events: diagnosis, staging, mastectomy, radiation, chemotherapy, and survivorship. Listen, connect, reflect…learn from her.
Guaranteed Success, By Design – Episode 108
> In part 2 of the conversation with world class trainer Cem Eren, join Charlie and Nicole and enter the Lion’s Den, a practice environment thoughtfully constructed to support our training journey from the moment we step through the door until the moment we step out of it. As we tour the space, we hear how unconditional acceptance underlies Cem’s strategy for facilitating positive change, and how his intuitive application of dialectics translates to clients that consistently hit huge goals and make extraordinary transformations.
Skillful Mind Training, Embodied – Episode 107
“In this episode, Nicole and Charlie tap into the wisdom that Cem Eren has gained from two decades of training elite NBA athletes, boxers, bodybuilders, beauty contestants, and ordinary humans of all ages. In examples that extend to therapy and coaching, Cem shares how he meets his clients every single day with freshness, compassion, dignity, and nonjudgmental presence, helping them connect with their strengths while building toward their goals.
Identity Grammar – Episode 106
What shapes the syntax of Self? How does context inform our inner lexicons? Are we more than the sum of all our actions?
In this episode Charlie and Nic explore the ways we find meaning through expressing identity, how we hold space for inner contradictions, and why self definition is a paradox, ripe for dialectical intervention.
Skillful Grieving, Making Meaning from Suffering, and a Dinosaur – Episode 105
In this second of our two-episode conversation with Natalia Garcia about her grieving process over the years since the death of her two-year-old son, we focus in on her altered relationship to time, rituals, and anniversaries; her remarkable use of DBT skills and dialectics to navigate the grieving process; the ways that she has made meaning out of her suffering; and a dinosaur, a gift from a fellow griever.
Who IS that Woman?! – Episode 104
Since Nicole joined Charlie as co-host, several long-time listeners have asked Charlie, Who IS that woman?! It’s actually a great question and the answer is far from simple. In this podcast, Charlie and Nicole explore their own self-narratives and expand into a larger conversation about how we all see ourselves, how we define ourselves, how we represent ourselves, how we are seen by others, and how that affects us.
In Her Own Words – Natalia Garcia on Coping with Loss and Trauma with Opposite Action and an Approach Lifestyle – Episode 103
In 2018, Natalia Garcia spoke with me over three podcast episodes about how she was dealing with the catastrophic and traumatic death of her two year old son eight months earlier. He died in the middle of the night for unexplained reasons. In three podcasts she spoke at length of her life, of the death itself, and then the road to recovery. In this week’s podcast, we reprise selected excerpts from those podcasts, capturing her words and her wisdom that grew out of this terrible loss. She inspires.
Long Grieving, Complicated Joy, and Flowers That Grow Around a Hole in the Heart – Episode 102
In June of 2018, eight months following the death of her two-year-old son to the Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC), Natalia Garcia joined this podcast for three episodes to describe the catastrophic loss and the ensuing grief process marked by her courage and skill in facing her vulnerabilities. Now, five years since the loss, she returns to the podcast to talk about the longer arc of the process of grieving her son and things that have happened since then. As before, this is a moving and inspiring story of courage that deals with a panoply of issues faced in any longer-term grief process.
Oct 6, 2022 | To Hell and Back
5 Years, 100 Episodes, 7 Lessons for Surviving Hell – Episode 101
In this episode, Charlie reflects on 100 episodes spent exploring human suffering. He synthesizes wisdom from interviews including coping with natural disaster, loss of a child, suicide, and cancer, arriving at seven overarching guidelines for survival.
The Long Reach of Loss – Suicide Outside the Immediate Family – Episode 100
In the final episode of our 4 part Series on coping with Suicide in the family, we hear from Teddy’s fiancé Mariya. Mariya’s developed a personal friendship with Ross and shares about that relationship and her experience grieving his suicide.
She also speaks about what it was like for her as someone outside the immediate family after Ross’ suicide: what it was like to be an outsider witnessing a family grapple with unspeakable loss, and how it felt to be a supportive partner to Teddy amidst her own grief.
The interview provides a window into the breadth of relationships impacted by suicide and gives perspective into the complexity of managing grief within and outside of a family system.
A Brother and a Best Friend Lost to Suicide (Part 3) – Episode 99
In the 3rd of our 4 Part Series on coping with suicide in the family, we speak with Beth’s son, and Ross’ brother, Teddy. Teddy shares his perspective on growing up as an older sibling to a brother who struggled with painful emotions throughout his lifetime, on the close friendship they developed as they got older, and his inexhaustible capacity to access compassion and warmth.
Teddy talks about being the person to find Ross after he took his life, navigating the mind-numbing administrative tasks that were required of him whilst being overwhelmed with emotion, and his instinct to surround himself with friends from the beginning to help him cope with a loss so great that, at times, it still doesn’t feel real.
Skillful Coping with Cancer (Part 3): Friendship is Good Medicine – Episode 98
In this episode, the third of four on how Andrea has coped with Cancer throughout 2022, her best friend Amy joins the conversation and they talk about what has happened in their friendship as a result of Cancer. How they have dealt with Cancer has enriched their friendship and their friendship has been key in helping Andrea to reduce her suffering and preserve her love of life. Totally sweet and inspiring! Check out the first two in the series, podcasts #87 and #93, where you get the detailed story of how Andrea has used DBT skills, dialectics, and mindfulness to navigate the myriad challenges that Cancer brings.
Death by Suicide of a Charismatic Young Man in a Loving Family (part 2) – Episode 97
In this episode (part 2), Charlie and Nicole speak with Beth about her son Ross who ended his life two years ago. We hear about Beth, the family, and Ross leading up to his death. In future episodes we learn how Beth and other family members have coped with the tragic loss.
Death by Suicide of a Charismatic Young Man in a Loving Family – Episode 96
In this episode, Charlie and Nicole speak with Beth about her son Ross who ended his life two years ago. We hear about Beth, the family, and Ross leading up to his death. In future episodes we learn how Beth and other family members have coped with the tragic loss.
Principles in Practice – The Narcissist in DBT Therapy- Episode 95
In this episode, Charlie and Nicole role play and then discuss a therapy session in which Charlie patiently sifts through the layers of defensive grandiosity and wounded pride that provoked his Narcissistic patient Taylor (played by Nicole) into a violent outburst at a recent wedding.
Narcissistic Behavior Patterns Through a DBT Lens – Episode 94
In this podcast, Charlie and Nicole contrast DBT versus psychodynamic models for narcissistic patients. Charlie demonstrates how to talk with these patients about the diagnosis with compassion and clarity. Charlie demonstrates how to talk with these patients about the diagnosis with clarity and compassion, using a DBT model.
Skillful Coping with Cancer-Interview 2 with Andrea Gold – Episode 93
This is the second installment of Charlie’s interview with Andrea Gold, PhD, DBT expert, faculty member of Brown University Department of Psychiatry. See podcast #87 for the first hour. Andrea was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in January of this year and is here reporting on how she has coped for the past six months with Cancer and its treatments, including managing her friendships and her family life with her husband and two young children. She is an inspiring human being and a master of using DBT skills to cope with her emotions and the challenges she faces.
No Narcissist is an Island – Episode 92
In episode 3 of the series on Narcissism Charlie and Nicole illustrate the relational nature of Narcissism. Through role play and discussion, listeners hear an intimate portrait of complex interpersonal dynamics playing out between the Narcissist and his counterpart, fueling and reinforcing Narcissistic behavior and belief.
Stay tuned for the final episode in the series where Charlie and Nicole share practical tools for preserving dignity and self esteem when interacting with a Narcissist.
Narcissism: It’s More Nuanced Then You Think – Episode 91
In this episode, the second in our series on narcissism, Charlie and Nicole dissect clinical models and cultural assumptions to illuminate the nature of narcissistic behavior, distinguishing between adaptive traits and the destructive conduct that may meet the criteria for a Narcissistic Personality Disorder diagnosis.
Narcissism and Narcissistic Personality – Episode 90
In this podcast, Charlie and Nicole talk about narcissism, how it plays a part in all of our lives, how there is a range from healthy to pathological, and how it can present in two different types, the grandiose and/or the vulnerable types. This will be the first of three or four podcasts on this topic.
Jul 7, 2022 – To Hell and Back
I Dont Want to Keep the Baby, Can My Partner Understand – Episode 89
In this episode, Charlie and Nicole role play a therapy session in which the client plans to terminate her pregnancy. DBT skills help her decide if, and how, she’ll share her plans with her partner who is very excited about having the child.
Jun 30, 2022 | To Hell and Back
Guns, Abortion and Dialectics (from DBT) – Episode 88
In this podcast, Charlie and Nicole look at recent divisive decisions by the Supreme Court through a dialectical lens as developed in DBT. In the spirit of conflict, Charlie sings a Dialectical Love Song, “Unhappy Together,” a bastardization of the Turtle’s 1967 love song, “Happy Together.”
Jun 27, 2022 | To Hell and Back
Skillful Coping with Cancer – An Interview with Andrea – Episode 87
Jun 19, 2022 | To Hell and Back
Dialectical Perspectives on the Gun Violence Debate – Episode 86
Jun 19, 2022 | To Hell and Back
Just Be There – Episode 85
Jun 16, 2022 | To Hell and Back
What is DBT and Where Did It Come From? – Episode 84
Jun 15, 2022 | To Hell and Back
To Hell and Back with Charlie Swenson is Back
Mar 26, 2021 | To Hell and Back
Acting Opposite to Action Urges to Change Emotions – Episode 83
“Acting Opposite…” is one of the cardinal skills taught in DBT, a way to reduce painful emotional responses, and the cornerstone of the behavioral change procedure of Exposure. In the upcoming podcast, “live” on Thursday, March 25 at 6:00 pm eastern, I will go over the functions of “acting opposite…,” the formula for doing it, and the nuances of making it work. While this might be interesting for DBT informed people, my hope is to get this skill out to a wider audience, it being such an effective and practical thing to do.
Mar 14, 2021 | To Hell and Back
Applying DBT’S model of emotions to your life – Episode 82
On this Thursday, March 11, at 6:00 pm, I will be joined on the podcast by three DBT therapists from Clearview Treatment Center Women’s Program: Nicole Riddle, Kate Roahrig, and Ruth Avalos. They all do individual DBT therapy and lots of skills training. They will bring practical examples of how you can apply DBT’s Model of Emotions to your life. You may benefit from listening to the last podcast, when I went over the ingredients of the model, but if you don’t, I think you can still benefit from this one.
Mar 5, 2021 | To Hell and Back
Why is it so damned hard to regulate emotions? – Episode 81
Even with all the techniques for regulating emotions, it’s really hard to deal with the intense, repetitive, stubborn ones. In this podcast I will go over ten reasons it’s so difficult. I do this for two reasons: first, maybe this will help someone who is listening to get a better understanding of what is making it so impossible to regulate certain emotions; second, this podcast will set the stage for a podcast next week on how to use DBT’s model of emotions to deal with stubborn negative emotions.
Mar 5, 2021 | To Hell and Back
Why is it so damned hard to regulate emotions? – Episode 81
Even with all the techniques for regulating emotions, it’s really hard to deal with the intense, repetitive, stubborn ones. In this podcast I will go over ten reasons it’s so difficult. I do this for two reasons: first, maybe this will help someone who is listening to get a better understanding of what is making it so impossible to regulate certain emotions; second, this podcast will set the stage for a podcast next week on how to use DBT’s model of emotions to deal with stubborn negative emotions.
Feb 19, 2021 | To Hell and Back
Applying DBT’s Third Shape (Dialectics) to Alleviate Pandemic Suffering – Episode 80
Feb 12, 2021 | To Hell and Back
More DBT Solutions to Pandemic Suffering – Episode-79
Jan 29, 2021 | To Hell and Back
DBT Solutions to Pandemic Suffering – Episode 78
Dec 19, 2020 | To Hell and Back
The Pandemic – Science Suffering And DBT Solutions – Episode 77
Jul 3, 2020 | To Hell and Back
Mindfulness Amidst Mindlessness (Part 2) – Episode 76
We are all living through a socio-cultural-political environment that is multi-layered, complex, intense, and can be dysregulating. In this podcast I will focus on three sets of principles/strategies/skills that can help us to be regulated and effective: mindfulness, radical acceptance, and validation.
Jun 19, 2020 | To Hell and Back
Mindfulness Amidst Mindlessness – Episode 75
We are all living through a socio-cultural-political environment that is multi-layered, complex, intense, and can be dysregulating. In this podcast I will focus on three sets of principles/strategies/skills that can help us to be regulated and effective: mindfulness, radical acceptance, and validation.
May 23, 2020 | To Hell and Back
Lessons from Pandemic Living – Episode 74
An upside down world eventually casts new and different light on fundamental principles and values, including those that interweave with the deep roots of DBT. Who knows in what ways we will emerge from this era different than when we went in. On this Thursday, May 21, at 6:00 pm eastern time, Kathryn Patrick and I will have a conversation about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on our own perspectives as we go through it. We invite you to listen in. Kathryn is a DBT therapist leading a DBT team in Denver, has worked for years with Kelly Koerner in developing the Practice Ground learning community, has trained and supervised others in DBT including at the intensive level, and will teach a ten day DBT intensive with me beginning in July.
May 9, 2020 | To Hell and Back
Changing Repetitive Painful Emotions – Episode 73
I have suffered from envy throughout my life. It is a painful emotion, and even as I taught others how to change emotions, I have not deliberately applied it to this emotion of mine. I apply some principles and skills in DBT to address and transform my envy, and in doing so I will show how you can use the same tools to address your own emotional pain. I will share other examples along the way.
Apr 3, 2020 | To Hell and Back
Italy, the US, the pandemic and DBT (part 2 of 2) – Episode 72
I will be joined by Maria Elena Ridolfi, a friend, colleague, DBT expert, and a leading public sector psychiatrist in Northern Italy. Maria and I will compare notes about personal and professional experiences and DBT perspectives on the crisis. Maria has lived and worked through some shockingly troubling times in Northern Italy in recent weeks, and has been helpful to me in understanding things that are “arriving” in the U.S. and other parts of Europe. I have no doubt that a dialogue about Italy, America, DBT, and the pandemic will be helpful to all of us. Maria and I will be joined by Laura Coverlizza, who lives with her husband and children near Milan, who is the interpreter for all of my DBT workshops in Italy, and who will provide consecutive interpretation into Italian throughout the Zoomcast/podcast so that it will also be accessible to the large Italian DBT and CBT community.
Dec 19, 2020 | To Hell and Back
The Pandemic – Science Suffering And DBT Solutions – Episode 77
Jul 3, 2020 | To Hell and Back
Mindfulness Amidst Mindlessness (Part 2) – Episode 76
We are all living through a socio-cultural-political environment that is multi-layered, complex, intense, and can be dysregulating. In this podcast I will focus on three sets of principles/strategies/skills that can help us to be regulated and effective: mindfulness, radical acceptance, and validation.
Jun 19, 2020 | To Hell and Back
Mindfulness Amidst Mindlessness – Episode 75
We are all living through a socio-cultural-political environment that is multi-layered, complex, intense, and can be dysregulating. In this podcast I will focus on three sets of principles/strategies/skills that can help us to be regulated and effective: mindfulness, radical acceptance, and validation.
May 23, 2020 | To Hell and Back
Lessons from Pandemic Living – Episode 74
An upside down world eventually casts new and different light on fundamental principles and values, including those that interweave with the deep roots of DBT. Who knows in what ways we will emerge from this era different than when we went in. On this Thursday, May 21, at 6:00 pm eastern time, Kathryn Patrick and I will have a conversation about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on our own perspectives as we go through it. We invite you to listen in. Kathryn is a DBT therapist leading a DBT team in Denver, has worked for years with Kelly Koerner in developing the Practice Ground learning community, has trained and supervised others in DBT including at the intensive level, and will teach a ten day DBT intensive with me beginning in July.
May 9, 2020 | To Hell and Back
Changing Repetitive Painful Emotions – Episode 73
I have suffered from envy throughout my life. It is a painful emotion, and even as I taught others how to change emotions, I have not deliberately applied it to this emotion of mine. I apply some principles and skills in DBT to address and transform my envy, and in doing so I will show how you can use the same tools to address your own emotional pain. I will share other examples along the way.
Mar 28, 2020 | To Hell and Back
Italy, the US, the pandemic and DBT – Episode 71
I will be joined by Maria Elena Ridolfi, a friend, colleague, DBT expert, and a leading public sector psychiatrist in Northern Italy. Maria and I will compare notes about personal and professional experiences and DBT perspectives on the crisis. Maria has lived and worked through some shockingly troubling times in Northern Italy in recent weeks, and has been helpful to me in understanding things that are “arriving” in the U.S. and other parts of Europe. I have no doubt that a dialogue about Italy, America, DBT, and the pandemic will be helpful to all of us. Maria and I will be joined by Laura Coverlizza, who lives with her husband and children near Milan, who is the interpreter for all of my DBT workshops in Italy, and who will provide consecutive interpretation into Italian throughout the Zoomcast/podcast so that it will also be accessible to the large Italian DBT and CBT community.
Mar 8, 2020 | To Hell and Back
DBT in the Era of Trump (3 of 4) – episode 70
Donald Trump’s presidency has been challenging in so many ways for so many individuals and families. In the next 4 podcasts I will draw from DBT for perspective on the situation and to spell out strategies to cope with Trump-associated adversity.
Mar 2, 2020 | To Hell and Back
DBT in the Era of Trump (2 of 4) – episode 69
Donald Trump’s presidency has been challenging in so many ways for so many individuals and families. In the next two podcasts I will draw from DBT for perspective on the situation and to spell out strategies to cope with Trump-associated adversity.
Feb 24, 2020 | To Hell and Back
DBT in the Era of Trump (1 of 4) – episode 68
Donald Trump’s presidency has been challenging in so many ways for so many individuals and families. In the next two podcasts I will draw from DBT for perspective on the situation and to spell out strategies to cope with Trump-associated adversity.
Feb 9, 2020 | To Hell and Back
Living with Cancer (4 of 4) – Episode 67
Seth Axelrod, PhD., is a Professor of Psychology at Yale University and Director of DBT services there. He is a trainer and consultant in DBT for Behavioral Tech. He was the recipient of the Cindy Sanderson Outstanding Educator Award in November, 2019, given by the International Society for the Improvement and Teaching of DBT (ISITDBT).
AND he has lived with and battled with a “bad” kind of Cancer for the past six years, continuing into the present. He will join me for the next three podcasts to talk with me (and all of us) about his experiences of Cancer and how he has used DBT, among other things, to cope.
Feb 2, 2020 | To Hell and Back
Living with Cancer (3 of 3) – Episode 66
Seth Axelrod, PhD., is a Professor of Psychology at Yale University and Director of DBT services there. He is a trainer and consultant in DBT for Behavioral Tech. He was the recipient of the Cindy Sanderson Outstanding Educator Award in November, 2019, given by the International Society for the Improvement and Teaching of DBT (ISITDBT).
AND he has lived with and battled with a “bad” kind of Cancer for the past six years, continuing into the present. He will join me for the next three podcasts to talk with me (and all of us) about his experiences of Cancer and how he has used DBT, among other things, to cope.
Jan 26, 2020 | To Hell and Back
Living with Cancer (2 of 3) – Episode 65
Seth Axelrod, PhD., is a Professor of Psychology at Yale University and Director of DBT services there. He is a trainer and consultant in DBT for Behavioral Tech. He was the recipient of the Cindy Sanderson Outstanding Educator Award in November, 2019, given by the International Society for the Improvement and Teaching of DBT (ISITDBT).
AND he has lived with and battled with a “bad” kind of Cancer for the past six years, continuing into the present. He will join me for the next three podcasts to talk with me (and all of us) about his experiences of Cancer and how he has used DBT, among other things, to cope.
Jan 18, 2020 | To Hell and Back
Living with Cancer (1 of 4) – Episode 64
Seth Axelrod, PhD., is a Professor of Psychology at Yale University and Director of DBT services there. He is a trainer and consultant in DBT for Behavioral Tech. He was the recipient of the Cindy Sanderson Outstanding Educator Award in November, 2019, given by the International Society for the Improvement and Teaching of DBT (ISITDBT).
AND he has lived with and battled with a “bad” kind of Cancer for the past six years, continuing into the present. He will join me for the next three podcasts to talk with me (and all of us) about his experiences of Cancer and how he has used DBT, among other things, to cope.
Jan 11, 2020 | To Hell and Back
What’s the point? (Part 3) – Episode 63
This week I talk about various approaches to pointlessness in DBT.
Dec 24, 2019 | To Hell and Back
What’s the point? (Part 2) – Episode 62
This week I talk about various approaches to pointlessness in DBT.
Dec 15, 2019 | To Hell and Back
Top 10 DBT skills-based antidotes for the holiday season – Episode 61
The holiday season can be loaded with emotional stress. I am joined in this week’s podcast by John Mader of North Carolina, as I was last year during the holiday season. He has put together his top ten DBT skills-based antidotes for the holiday season. You can find them and download them from his team’s website, www.dbtfamilyskills.com. Check it out; there is other great stuff there.
After sharing our own experiences and observations about stress during the holidays, we will share our own favorite antidotes.
Dec 11, 2019 | To Hell and Back
What’s the point? – Episode 60
I discuss the nature of the painful and paralyzing experience of pointlessness in life.
Nov 9, 2019 | To Hell and Back
Life After Death: Lessons from the Life of Perry Hoffman – Episode 59
Nov 3, 2019 | To Hell and Back
Dealing with the read end experience of having a spouse or partner with a serious mental illness – Episode 58
Oct 20, 2019 | To Hell and Back
No Dead Ends – The Step by Step Path Out of a Dead End -Episode 57
Jul 27, 2019 | To Hell and Back
How To Accept Reality and Tolerate Distress – Episode 56
Jul 13, 2019 | To Hell and Back
Judging, Judgment, Judgmental, and Non-Judgmental – Episode 55
I focus on the nature of judging and judgments, what it is that makes a judgment into a judgmental statement, what are the problems with being judgmental, and how do we become non-judgmental.
Jun 9, 2019 | To Hell and Back
More mindfulness skills in DBT for coping with hell – Episode 54
With the following zoom sessions I will teach all DBT skills, one at a time. I will explain the skill, making it as practical as I can, then talk about where and how anyone can apply it to enhance life and reduce misery, and then take questions and have dialogue with anyone who is participating live.
May 23, 2019 | To Hell and Back
Mindfulness Skills: the power of simply observing reality – Episode 53
With the following zoom sessions I will teach all DBT skills, one at a time. I will explain the skill, making it as practical as I can, then talk about where and how anyone can apply it to enhance life and reduce misery, and then take questions and have dialogue with anyone who is participating live.
May 14, 2019 | To Hell and Back
Mindfulness as taught within DBT – Episode 52
With the following zoom sessions I will teach all DBT skills, one at a time. I will explain the skill, making it as practical as I can, then talk about where and how anyone can apply it to enhance life and reduce misery, and then take questions and have dialogue with anyone who is participating live.
May 3, 2019 | To Hell and Back
Mindfulness in the service of reducing suffering – Episode 51
Beginning with this Zoom session I will begin to teach all DBT skills, one at a time. I will explain the skill, making it as practical as I can, then talk about where and how anyone can apply it to enhance life and reduce misery, and then take questions and have dialogue with anyone who is participating live.
Apr 23, 2019 | To Hell and Back
To Hell and Back – The Zoom Version (April 18, 2019) – Episode 50
Charlie reads from a book about skills that he is writing, then responds to questions about self-validation and about the distinction between emotion regulation and distress tolerance skills.
Apr 15, 2019 | To Hell and Back
Getting Old Sucks – Acceptance Helps – Episode 49
Mar 28, 2019 | To Hell and Back
10 Reasons the DBT Skills Training Fails, and Solutions – Episode 48
As helpful as we believe skills to be, it is common that they are not learned, or not used, or ineffective. In this podcast Charlie names ten reasons for skills training to fail, with some solutions.
Mar 21, 2019 | To Hell and Back
Ingredients in the recipe for recovery from Hell – Episode 47
Weaving together some recovery stories and some reflections on DBT and TFP, Charlie identifies some of the elements needed for getting out of Hell.
Mar 18, 2019 | To Hell and Back
A conversation with Andrea Rosenhaft (Part 3 of 3) – Episode 46
Charlie has an extended conversation with Andrea about her many years of suffering with anorexia and borderline personality disorder, and how treatment has helped her.
Feb 27, 2019 | To Hell and Back
A conversation with Andrea Rosenhaft (Part 2 of 3) – Episode 45
A conversation with Andrea Rosenhaft (Part 1 of 3) – Episode 44
Charlie has an extended conversation with Andrea about her many years of suffering with anorexia and borderline personality disorder, and how treatment has helped her.
Feb 22, 2019 | To Hell and Back
How to Use Dialectics to Deal with Relationships – Episode 43
Feb 8, 2019 | To Hell and Back
Relationship Skills in DBT (part 3 of 3) – Episode 42
Learn to use and strengthen DEAR MAN GIVE FAST skills for achieving interpersonal objectives and for effectively saying no to unwanted requests and pressures.
Feb 1, 2019 | To Hell and Back
Relationship Skills in DBT (part 2 of 3) – Episode 41
Learn to use and strengthen DEAR MAN GIVE FAST skills for achieving interpersonal objectives and for effectively saying no to unwanted requests and pressures.
Jan 24, 2019 | To Hell and Back
Relationship Skills in DBT (part 1 of 3) – Episode 40
Relationship hell takes many forms. Today we begin to consider tools for coping with relationships more effectively.
Jan 7, 2019 | To Hell and Back
The Nature of Emotions and Emotion Regulation (Part 5 of 5) – Episode 39
Dec 22, 2018 | To Hell and Back
Coping with Holiday Hell: Ten DBT- based Antidotes – Episode 38
After discussing the reasons for bad feelings during the holidays, and the nature of those feelings, Charlie talks with John Mader, DBT therapist from North Carolina, about ten antidotes to those feelings.
Dec 15, 2018 | To Hell and Back
The Nature of Emotions and Emotion Regulation (Part 4 of 5) – Episode 37
Dec 4, 2018 | To Hell and Back
The Nature of Emotions and Emotion Regulation (Part 3 of 5) – Episode 36
Nov 24, 2018 | To Hell and Back
The Nature of Emotions and Emotion Regulation (Part 2 of 5) – Episode 35
Nov 2, 2018 | To Hell and Back
The Nature of Emotions and Emotion Regulation (Part 1 of 5) – Episode 34
Oct 17, 2018 | To Hell and Back
Dealing with the Hell of Addictions (Part 2 of 2) – Episode 33
Charlie discusses addictions and DBT’s perspective and skills for coping with the crisis of addictions.
Oct 11, 2018 | To Hell and Back
Dealing with the Hell of Addictions (Part 1 of 2) – Episode 32
Charlie discusses addictions and DBT’s perspective and skills for coping with the crisis of addictions.
Oct 1, 2018 | To Hell and Back
Entitlement, Victimization, and Emotion Regulation – Episode 31
Sep 22, 2018 | To Hell and Back
DBT Skills for All (6 of 6) – Episode 30
Sep 19, 2018 | To Hell and Back
DBT Skills for All (5 of 6) – Episode 29
This set of podcasts teaches DBT Skills as a set of tools for daily life and for getting through and out of Hell. Please check out Marsha Linehan’s Skills Training Manual as the original source
Sep 6, 2018 | To Hell and Back
DBT Skills for All (4 of 6) – Episode 28
This set of podcasts teaches DBT Skills as a set of tools for daily life and for getting through and out of Hell. Please check out Marsha Linehan’s Skills Training Manual as the original source
Aug 31, 2018 | To Hell and Back
DBT Skills for All (3 of 6) – Episode 27
This set of podcasts teaches DBT Skills as a set of tools for daily life and for getting through and out of Hell. Please check out Marsha Linehan’s Skills Training Manual as the original source
Aug 3, 2018 | To Hell and Back
DBT Skills for All (2 of 6) – Episode 26
Jul 27, 2018 | To Hell and Back
DBT Skills for All (1 of 6) – Episode 25
Jul 24, 2018 | To Hell and Back
Radical Acceptance – Episode 24
How it is that seeing reality clearly, acknowledging it, and deeply accepting it helps in navigating adversity more effectively.
Jun 40, 2018 | To Hell and Back
Radical Acceptance (1 of 2) – Episode 23
How it is that seeing reality clearly, acknowledging it, and deeply accepting it helps in navigating adversity more effectively.
Jun 23, 2018 | To Hell and Back
After providing a summary of the central theme of the four interviews in the podcast to date, Charlie begins reading a story about the death of his best friend Cindy.
Jun 16, 2018 | To Hell and Back
Surviving the Death of a Child (3 of 3) – Episode 21
As part of coping, and in the service of making meaning for others, Natalia tells us what she has gone through, what tools she has used to cope, and how she is doing after the death of her child.
Jun 10, 2018 | To Hell and Back
Surviving the Death of a Child (2 of 3) – Episode 20
As part of coping, and in the service of making meaning for others, Natalia tells us what she has gone through, what tools she has used to cope, and how she is doing after the death of her child.
Jun 1, 2018 | To Hell and Back
Surviving the Death of a Child ( 1 of 3) – Episode 19
As part of coping, and in the service of making meaning for others, Natalia tells us what she has gone through, what tools she has used to cope, and how she is doing after the death of her child.
May 18, 2018 | To Hell and Back
The DBT Prolonged Exposure (DBT PE) protocol – A conversation with Melanie Harned PhD (part 3 of 3) – Episode 18
Charlie continues his discussion with Melanie Harned about the essential ingredients of DBT Prolonged Exposure (DBT-PE), and to explore life lessons Melanie has learned in doing PTSD treatment, from which we can all benefit in coping with trauma in our lives.
May 14, 2018 | To Hell and Back
The DBT Prolonged Exposure (DBT PE) protocol – A conversation with Melanie Harned PhD (part 2 of 3) – Episode 17
Charlie continues his discussion with Melanie Harned about the essential ingredients of DBT Prolonged Exposure (DBT-PE), and to explore life lessons Melanie has learned in doing PTSD treatment, from which we can all benefit in coping with trauma in our lives.
May 3, 2018 | To Hell and Back
The DBT Prolonged Exposure (DBT PE) protocol – A conversation with Melanie Harned PhD (part 1 of 3) – Episode 16
Charlie talks for three consecutive podcasts with Melanie Harned, the developer of DBT-Prolonged Exposure, an evidence-based therapy for PTSD, in order to discuss the essential ingredients of that treatment, and to explore life lessons Melanie has learned in doing PTSD treatment, from which we can all benefit in coping with trauma in our lives.
Apr 24, 2018 | To Hell and Back
The Dialectical Perspective – Episode 15
Charlie continues and concludes the discussion about dialectical principles and how helpful they can be in coping with adversity.
Mar 40, 2018 | To Hell and Back
Interbeing and Being Dialectical in the Presence of Adversity – Episode 14
The discussion of the principles of acceptance is concluded with a focus on “interbeing,” and the focus then shifts to the five principles of being dialectical in coping with hell.
Mar 23, 2018 | To Hell and Back
Using Acceptance To Get Through Hell (2 of 2) – Episode 13
Charlie continues with a discussion of the five principles of acceptance and the implications for coping with adversity.
Mar 18, 2018 | To Hell and Back
Using Acceptance To Get Through Hell (1 of 2) – Episode 12
In this podcast and the next one, Charlie lays out five principles of acceptance and explores the implications for coping with adversity in life.
Mar 8, 2018 | To Hell and Back
Relationship Hell – Episode 11
The focus here is on the way in which our relationships can become hellish, and on some ways to manage these very difficult situations.
Mar 1, 2018 | To Hell and Back
Coming to Terms with a Suicide in the Family – A Conversation with Cedar Koons (3 of 3) – Episode 10
Charlie speaks with Cedar Koons about her sister’s death by suicide, and how she coped with the shocking events, the disruption of her life, and her profound grief.
Feb 15, 2018 | To Hell and Back
Tools for Getting back from Hell – Episode 9
In this podcast, Charlie returns to complete his discussion over several podcasts about using DBT’s core mindfulness skills for surviving hell and returning from it.
Feb 1, 2018 | To Hell and Back
Coming to Terms with a Suicide in the Family – A Conversation with Cedar Koons (2 of 3) – Episode 8
Charlie speaks with Cedar Koons about her sister’s death by suicide, and how she coped with the shocking events, the disruption of her life, and her profound grief
Jan 21, 2018 | To Hell and Back
Coming to Terms with a Suicide in the Family – A Conversation with Cedar Koons (1 of 3) – Episode 7
In this and two upcoming podcasts, Charlie speaks with Cedar Koons about her sister’s death by suicide, and how she coped with the shocking events, the disruption of her life, and her profound grief.
Jan 4, 2018 | To Hell and Back
Using Mindfulness Skills to Cope with Difficult Emotions and Emptiness – Episode 6
In this podcast, Charlie teaches about the anatomy, the flow, and the elements of an emotional response, and how to utilize DBT’s six mindfulness skills to cope with emotional responses and the painful experience of emptiness..
Dec 7, 2017 | To Hell and Back
Describing – Episode 5
In today’s podcast, we add DESCRIBING to its close cousin, OBSERVING, as we build our toolkit for coping with hellish life situations.
Dec 2, 2017 | To Hell and Back
Coping with Hell – The Skill of Observing (2 of 2) – Episode 4
Why observing reality is a core skill for coping in,and getting out of hell; and how to do it.
Nov 23, 2017 | To Hell and Back
The Skill of Observing (1 of 2) – Episode-3
Coping with Hell – the Skill of Observing. Why observing reality is a core skill for coping in,and getting out of hell; and how to do it.
Nov 9, 2017 | To Hell and Back
Hurricane Hell (2 of 2) – Episode 2
In this podcast Charlie and his guest, Dr. Marques from Puerto Rico, continue to talk about the human experience of Hurricane Maria on September 20, and reflect on lessons for human coping from the hurricane.
Nov 2, 2017 | To Hell and Back
Hurricane Hell (1 of 2) – Episode 1
In this podcast Charlie interviews Dr. Domingo Marques, a psychologist in Puerto Rico who practices DBT, to learn about his experience, and the experience of his family, friends, colleagues, and patients as Hurricane Maria devastated the entire country on September 20; Charlie and Dr. Marques will begin to discuss some lessons about coping in a catastrophic situation.