South African psychologists, deepen your understanding of emotional dysregulation with this DBT-informed talk on the 'Distress Cycle'. Learn to support families by explaining emotional intensity and 'volume control' to parents and partners of clients experiencing overwhelming emotions and impulsive behaviours.
Practitioners frequently ask what it looks like to use principles from a DBT informed approach in their clinical work. In this series of 5 videos, Dr. Ella Brent talks to parents and partners of emotionally dysregulated clients.
In this video parents and partners of emotionally dysregulated clients are introduced to the concept of emotional intensity, and the idea of “volume control” required in order to attend to our human experiences.
This video illustrates how family members’ concerns about their child or partners’ “symptoms” can be accounted for in this model of emotional intensity. The Distress Cycle shows how when inside feelings are either/and too intense and overwhelming or too confusing, and are then discharged into impulsive behaviour
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this talk, participants will be able to:
· Describe the core features of emotional dysregulation from a DBT-informed perspective.
· Explain the “Distress Cycle” and its relevance to impulsive behaviour and symptom escalation.
· Identify strategies for psychoeducation and communication with family members of dysregulated individuals.
· Support families in recognising emotional intensity and applying “volume control” principles.
Personality Disorders: Theoretical framework and formulation