From Emotionally Sensitive to Overcontrolled Emotions, Using Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Radically Open Dialectical Behavioral Therapy to Find Balance
From Therapy on the Cutting Edge by W Keith Sutton PsyD
February 23, 2026 · 55 min · Episode 82
About this episode
Alicia discusses her work with Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Radically Open DBT, focusing on emotional sensitivity and coping skills.
In this episode, Alicia discusses her work with Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Radically Open DBT. She explains that she was first exposed to DBT in her predoctoral internship at Marin General Hospital, where part of the rotation was to run a DBT group and fell in love with its practicality and giving people real tools they could take away. She explained that it was great to see clients using the tools and finding success, so she got went and got trained with Marsha Linehan, Ph.D. and Behavioral Tech and made DBT her focus. She explained that DBT is especially helpful for clients who describe themselves as emotionally sensitive or struggle to “ride the wave” of emotions that feel overwhelming. Alicia discusses the five modules of DBT that she works from, including mindfulness, distress tolerance, affect regulation, interpersonal skills, and “walking the middle path,” (which is related to validation and reinforcement in family emotional dynamics). Alicia goes on to explain the use of the modules in working towards emotional awareness, getting through emotional crises, and radical acceptance of emotions. We also discuss coping skills and exposure therapy and how there are tools…
People in this episode
Host: W Keith Sutton PsyD
Guest: Alicia
Topics covered
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy
- Radically Open DBT
- emotional sensitivity
- coping skills
- emotional awareness
- mindfulness
Keywords
- DBT
- Radically Open DBT
- emotional regulation
- distress tolerance
- mindfulness
- interpersonal skills
- exposure therapy
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Behavioral Tech, Marin General Hospital
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