March 12, 2025

Dialectical Behavior Therapy; Dr. Laurie Bruce

28 minutes

Dr. Laurie Bruce uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help people learn to manage their emotions and let go of anxiety and trauma issues. Dr. Bruce has provided psychotherapy, consultation and supervision to thousands of clients and students. She is certified in DBT and Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy. Dr. Bruce is the host of the podcast, From Both Sides of the Couch, where she shares the current research on mental health and psychotherapy, from her perspective as both a psychologist and a client in her own psychotherapy. She is passionate about mindfulness, emotion regulation, resilience, radical acceptance and vulnerability.

Listen & Subscribe on: iTunes / Stitcher / Podbean / Overcast / Spotify

Contact Info

Website: www.DrLaurieBruce.com

Podcast: From Both Sides of the Couch

Most Influential Person

My two kids

Effect on Emotions

I can't change what I'm not aware of, so the very first step is to be more aware of how I feel emotions in my body. Typically one of the corresponding thoughts that I have with certain emotions, I feel anger in my chest or my stomach and usually a corresponding thought is that's not fair. Being able to identify how it feels in my with what the words are going through my head, with what the name of that emotion is, that helps me to regulate it and it helps me to change it if that's an emotion I want to change.

Book: The mindful way through depression.

App: calm and insight timer.

Thoughts on Breathing

Breathing

We teach breathing both in the mindfulness component of just observing our breath is a great mindfulness exercise. We also teach breathing as a tool To help decrease distress. When were very upset, which in DBT we call emotion mind, breathing can be a tool to bring down the intensity of any emotion.

Bullying Story

I was bullied during my early childhood. I attribute my bullying experiences as part of the reason that I became a clinical psychologist.

I struggled with depression and anxiety and low self-worth. Becoming a clinical psychologist was about me trying to alleviate that pain that stemmed from my childhood bullying.

When I started learning about DBT, back in the mid '90s, I recognized that I was learning important skills for the very first time.

I believe we should teach DBT in schools so that kids feel more empowered. That would help them regulate their emotions and their distress and learn how to be present.

Suggested Resources

Book: The Mindful Way Through Depression by Mark Williams and John Teasdale

App: Calm and Insight Timer

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