What You Need to Know
• Shireen Rizvi, a professor of psychiatry, co-authored the book “Real Skills for Real Life” to address distress.
• The book teaches dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills to manage difficult emotions using engaging diagrams.
• DBT, developed by Marsha Linehan in the 1980s, has proven effective for various mental health issues beyond borderline personality disorder.
Shireen Rizvi, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Montefiore Medical Center, has co-authored the book “Real Skills for Real Life: A DBT Guide to Navigating Stress, Emotions, and Relationships,” published earlier this year. The book aims to help individuals cope with distress through dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) techniques, which include decision trees for conflict resolution and mindfulness practices. Rizvi and co-author Jesse Finkelstein, a clinical psychologist, emphasize that DBT skills are beneficial for a wide range of emotional challenges, not just those related to complex mental health disorders. The authors provide practical strategies, including a set of techniques called TIP, which stands for temperature, intense exercise, paced breathing, and paired muscle relaxation, to assist individuals during moments of high distress.
Why It Matters
Understanding the significance of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is crucial, as it was initially created by psychologist Marsha Linehan in the 1980s to treat borderline personality disorder. Over the years, research has demonstrated that DBT skills can effectively aid individuals facing various emotional difficulties. The book by Shireen Rizvi and Jesse Finkelstein contributes to this growing body of knowledge by offering accessible tools for managing distress, which is increasingly relevant in today’s high-stress environment. As mental health awareness rises, resources like this book play an essential role in equipping individuals with coping strategies.
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