First published 3 July 2020. Updated 29 January 2025.
Self-control refers to our ability to restrain acting on our urges, emotions, and wants in favour of longer term goals. Most of the time, self-control is good, but some people can suffer from excessive self-control and this can result in a problem relaxing when needed.
Overly controlled people may be inhibited, perfectionist, cautious, and feeling exhausted by social interactions.
Signs of over control can include:
- having high expectations of yourself or others;
- if you feel stress, the urge is to control the environment around you
- finding yourself masking or hiding your emotions
- difficulty connecting with others.
What is RO DBT?
It stands for Radically Open Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. You may have heard of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) before, however RO DBT is quite different. It’s an adaptation of traditional Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), but with a focus on promoting emotional openness, flexibility, and social connectedness. RO-DBT emphasizes the importance of engaging with others, being open to feedback, and being willing to take emotional risks, which contrasts with DBT that focuses on emotional regulation and mindfulness. Ultimately RO DBT aims to improve one’s social connection.
What can I expect?
RO DBT consists of a weekly skills class with the RO psychologists over the course of approximately 30 weeks.
Please talk to your psychologist or St John of God Health Care psychiatrist to see if this might be a good fit for you.
If you would like more information about RO DBT, please get in touch with our Counselling and Therapy Centres.
St John of God Burwood Hospital Counselling and Therapy Centre
420 Parramatta Road
Burwood NSW 2134
Tel: (02) 8746 4400
St John of God Richmond Hospital Counselling and Therapy Centre
177 Grose Vale Road
North Richmond, NSW 2754
Tel: (02) 4570 6128
