Radically Queer DBT adapts Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT, Linehan, 1994, 2015) to the needs of queer, trans, and neurodivergent people. DBT is a great set of tools and practices for solving life problems, but it was primarily designed for people with disorders of undercontrol (Lynch, 2018). Some queer, trans, and neurodivergent folks are undercontrolled, but others are overcontrolled. Furthermore, many neurodivergent people struggle with self-regulation needs that are linked to neurotype differences. These situations require awareness, acceptance, and accommodation rather than stress management skills or masking strategies.
RQ-DBT takes the four pillars of DBT (core mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance) and hacks them for use by queer, trans, and ND people. It also adds additional stacks, including neurotype accommodation and queer and neuroqueer anti-oppression frameworks. Insomuch as many queer, trans, and neurodivergent people struggle due to internalized oppression and daily experiences of marginalization, symbolic and physical violence, and political threat, anti-oppression frameworks and practices are important elements of social-emotional wellness.
RQ-DBT is under active development, and I’ll be posting updates as they are ready. Stay tuned! Or reach out if you”d like to check in.
References:
Linehan, M. M. (1993). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of borderline personality disorder. Guilford Press.
Linehan, M. M. (1993). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of borderline personality disorder. Guilford Press.
Lynch, T. R. (2018). Radically open dialectical behavior therapy: Theory and practice for treating disorders of overcontrol. New Harbinger Publications, Inc.