RO DBT Skills Training In Portland
Abri Psychotherapy provides RO DBT skills therapy which helps people who often appear high-functioning or controlled on the outside, yet feel lonely, disconnected, or stuck on the inside.
What Are the Core Skills Taught in RO DBT?
Radically Open DBT teaches a unique set of skills aimed at helping individuals with emotional overcontrol open up, connect, and live more flexibly. The core skill areas include:
Openness Skills
These skills focus on increasing willingness to experience discomfort, uncertainty, and feedback without defensiveness. Clients learn to practice self-enquiry (a form of mindful curiosity), challenge perfectionistic thinking, and engage in “radical openness”—the willingness to be wrong and stay receptive to new information.
Flexibility Skills
RO DBT teaches how to respond to life’s challenges with psychological flexibility rather than rigid control. Skills in this category include flexible mindsets, adaptive coping, and the ability to shift behavior when patterns are no longer effective. These help individuals reduce black-and-white thinking and adapt more smoothly to change.
Social Signaling Skills
Social signaling is about expressing internal emotional states outwardly in ways that build trust and connection. RO DBT emphasizes nonverbal communication, appropriate emotional expression, and behaviors that signal openness and authenticity—critical for forming meaningful relationships.
How Do RO DBT Skills Help With Emotional Regulation?
Unlike traditional DBT, which focuses on reducing emotional dysregulation, RO DBT skills help individuals who tend to suppress or overly control their emotions. These skills promote emotional awareness, increase the willingness to express feelings, and reduce the fear of vulnerability. By learning to trust safe emotional expression and step outside of rigid control strategies, clients develop healthier ways to regulate emotion—not by suppressing it, but by sharing it constructively. Over time, this leads to improved relationships, reduced isolation, and a more balanced emotional life.
Can I Learn RO DBT Skills Online?
Yes, many individuals learn RO DBT skills through online therapy programs, virtual skills classes, or guided self-help materials. While working with a trained RO DBT therapist is ideal—especially for tailored support—online options make the therapy more accessible. Some clinics offer full RO DBT programs remotely, including group classes and individual sessions. There are also workbooks and training resources available that walk clients through the core concepts and exercises. If you’re considering learning online, look for programs led by certified RO DBT providers to ensure the content follows the evidence-based model.
Are RO DBT Skills Similar to DBT Skills?
While both therapies share dialectical roots and some mindfulness elements, RO DBT skills are distinct from standard DBT skills. Traditional DBT is designed for individuals with undercontrolled behaviors—impulsivity, emotional outbursts, and self-harm—and focuses on crisis management, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance. RO DBT, in contrast, targets overcontrolled individuals and teaches skills related to openness, social connection, and flexibility. Instead of calming emotions, RO DBT often encourages emotional activation—helping clients feel and express more rather than less. So while they share a foundation, the skill sets are quite different in intention and practice.
What Is an Example of an RO DBT Skill?
One example of a radically open DBT skill is “self-enquiry.” This is a practice of curious, non-judgmental reflection where you ask yourself questions like, “What am I avoiding?” or “What would it be like to be wrong about this?” The goal is not to find a quick answer, but to soften rigid thinking and increase openness to new perspectives. Self-enquiry invites clients to explore their beliefs and assumptions with compassion, allowing for emotional growth and interpersonal connection. It’s a foundational skill that reflects the core values of radical openness and psychological flexibility in the RO DBT approach.
Start Radically Open DBT in Oregon
Information and Frequently Asked Questions:
Do you accept insurance?
We accept the following insurances:
- Kaiser Permanente
- PacificSource
- Legacy Health Plan
- CareOregon (OHP)
- Trillium (OHP)
- Mentia
Please note, Medicaid must be your primary insurance to be billed. We are out-of-network for all other insurances at this time and do not submit out-of-network claims or bill secondary insurances. We do not accept Medicare at this time.
What are your out of network rates?
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1. Fill out the form.
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