Radically Open DBT (RO-DBT) Therapy
Long Island & NYC
Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO-DBT) is an evidence-based treatment designed for individuals who struggle with over-control. Over-control often appears as excessive self-discipline, emotional restraint, perfectionism, and difficulty connecting with others.
While these traits can sometimes look like strengths, they can also lead to loneliness, rigidity, and feeling emotionally disconnected from life or relationships.
RO-DBT helps individuals develop greater openness, flexibility, and emotional expression, making it easier to build meaningful relationships and experience a more fulfilling life.
Who RO - DBT Helps and Who is Better Suited for Traditional DBT
RO-DBT is Particularly Effective for:
- Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)
- Anorexia Nervosa (Once stabilized)
- Avoidant Personality Disorder
- Schizoid and Schizotypal Personality Disorders
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (particularly for higher-functioning individuals)
- Treatment-Resistant Depression
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Chronic Over-Control and Perfectionism
- Emotional Inhibition and Social Isolation
Traditional DBT is Best Suited for:
- Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
- Bipolar Disorder
- Depression
- ADHD
- Histrionic Personality Disorder
- Conduct Disorders
- Binge-Purge Eating Disorders
- Substance Use Disorders
- Impulsive or Emotionally Intense Behaviors
- Suicidal Ideation and Self-Harm Behaviors
How RO-DBT Works
RO-DBT focuses on helping individuals build skills that increase openness, emotional expression, and social connection.
Rather than focusing primarily on managing intense emotional reactions, RO-DBT helps people loosen rigid patterns of control and become more flexible in their thoughts, behaviors, and relationships.
Through structured exercises, skills practice, and therapeutic support, clients learn how to:
• express emotions more openly
• respond flexibly to challenges
• increase social signaling and connection
• reduce perfectionism and rigid self-expectations
Over time, these skills can help individuals feel more connected, engaged, and emotionally present in their lives.
What can I expect during RO-DBT treatment?
At Suffolk DBT, RO-DBT treatment is a structured and supportive process designed to help you reduce over-control and build a more balanced, fulfilling life. Here’s what you can expect:
Individual Sessions
You’ll have regular one-on-one sessions with your RO-DBT therapist. In these sessions, you’ll learn specific skills aimed at loosening rigid patterns of control and increasing openness. Therapy focuses on practical exercises that support flexibility in thinking, emotional expression, and trying new ways of responding. Clients often use an RO-DBT diary card between sessions to track emotions, behaviors, and skill use, helping guide discussion and progress during therapy. Sessions are interactive and collaborative, providing a safe and supportive space to practice new skills with guidance from your therapist.
Group Sessions
In addition to individual therapy, you’ll participate in RO-DBT skills groups with others working on similar challenges. Group sessions are a core component of RO-DBT and offer opportunities to practice social signaling, build connection, and experience the support of a community. The group setting helps reinforce skills learned in individual therapy while offering insight and perspective from others.
Between-Session Support
To support your progress, you’ll also have access to phone coaching between sessions. This allows you to reach out for help applying RO-DBT skills in real-life situations or when navigating challenging emotions. Between-session support helps you stay on track and make steady, meaningful progress.
Therapist Expertise and Involvement
RO-DBT therapists at Suffolk DBT are highly trained and actively engaged in the work themselves. Your therapist participates in ongoing consultation with other RO-DBT clinicians to ensure high-quality, up-to-date care. This commitment means your therapist practices the same skills they teach, fostering deeper understanding, authenticity, and empathy within the therapeutic relationship.
Overall, RO-DBT at Suffolk DBT is designed to be a comprehensive and supportive experience—helping you build the skills needed to live a more open, connected, and emotionally expressive life. Whether you’re just beginning your journey or continuing deeper therapeutic work, our team is here to guide you every step of the way.
RO-DBT and DBT: A Complementary Approach
Traditional DBT and RO-DBT both focus on improving emotional functioning, but they address different patterns of difficulty.
Traditional DBT is designed for individuals who struggle with under-control, including intense emotions, impulsive behaviors, and difficulty regulating emotional reactions.
RO-DBT, by contrast, focuses on individuals who struggle with over-control, such as emotional restraint, perfectionism, and difficulty forming close relationships.
Because our clinicians are trained in both approaches, we can help determine which treatment or combination of approaches is the best fit for your needs.
Why Choose a DBT-Trained Clinician for RO-DBT?
At Suffolk DBT, our clinicians are extensively trained in both traditional DBT and RO-DBT. This allows us to understand the full range of emotional regulation patterns, from under-control to over-control.
This depth of training helps ensure that treatment is carefully tailored to each individual, supporting meaningful and lasting change.
What can I expect during RO-DBT treatment?
At Suffolk DBT, RO-DBT treatment is a structured and supportive process designed to help you reduce over-control and build a more balanced, fulfilling life. Here’s what you can expect:
Individual Sessions
You’ll have regular one-on-one sessions with your RO-DBT therapist. In these sessions, you’ll learn specific skills aimed at loosening rigid patterns of control and increasing openness. Therapy focuses on practical exercises that support flexibility in thinking, emotional expression, and trying new ways of responding. Clients often use an RO-DBT diary card between sessions to track emotions, behaviors, and skill use, helping guide discussion and progress during therapy. Sessions are interactive and collaborative, providing a safe and supportive space to practice new skills with guidance from your therapist.
Group Therapy
In addition to individual therapy, you’ll participate in RO-DBT skills groups with others working on similar challenges. Group sessions are a core component of RO-DBT and offer opportunities to practice social signaling, build connection, and experience the support of a community. The group setting helps reinforce skills learned in individual therapy while offering insight and perspective from others.
Between-Session Support
To support your progress, you’ll also have access to phone coaching between sessions. This allows you to reach out for help applying RO-DBT skills in real-life situations or when navigating challenging emotions. Between-session support helps you stay on track and make steady, meaningful progress.
Therapist Expertise and Involvement
RO-DBT therapists at Suffolk DBT are highly trained and actively engaged in the work themselves. Your therapist participates in ongoing consultation with other RO-DBT clinicians to ensure high-quality, up-to-date care. This commitment means your therapist practices the same skills they teach, fostering deeper understanding, authenticity, and empathy within the therapeutic relationship.
Overall, RO-DBT at Suffolk DBT is designed to be a comprehensive and supportive experience—helping you build the skills needed to live a more open, connected, and emotionally expressive life. Whether you’re just beginning your journey or continuing deeper therapeutic work, our team is here to guide you every step of the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
RO-DBT at Suffolk DBT
If you struggle with patterns such as perfectionism, emotional inhibition, social isolation, or rigidity, RO-DBT may be an appropriate fit. In many cases, we ask clients to begin with standard DBT, often starting with the mindfulness module, to build a shared foundation of skills. Within a few months, clients may then transition into RO-DBT as clinically appropriate.
During the intake process, we’ll work with you to assess your needs and determine the most supportive and effective treatment plan.
The length of RO-DBT therapy varies depending on individual needs. Typically, sessions are conducted weekly, with most clients participating in treatment for a year. The skills learned in RO-DBT are complex and may take time to fully integrate, but they can lead to lasting changes in how you interact with the world.
Yes, our RO-DBT therapy for New York residents is currently conducted in person and we offer online Therapy. We’ve found that this format works well for many clients, offering the flexibility to engage in therapy from the comfort of your home or in one of our beautiful offices. We find that our RO-DBT clients are fully engaged in the process, rarely miss sessions, and even look forward to meeting as a group. Our RO-DBT therapist’s focus remains on building a strong therapeutic relationship and ensuring you receive the support you need.
While RO-DBT and standard DBT share some foundational principles, they are designed for different types of emotional regulation challenges. Standard DBT is more suited to those with under-control issues, such as impulsivity and emotional intensity, while RO-DBT is tailored for those who struggle with over-control. At Suffolk DBT, we specialize in both, allowing us to offer a personalized approach based on your unique needs.
Currently, we do not offer a dedicated RO-DBT group for teenagers at Suffolk DBT. However, we recognize the potential benefits of RO-DBT for teens who struggle with over-control, such as extreme perfectionism, social withdrawal, or emotional inhibition. If there is enough interest, we would consider starting a teen RO-DBT group. In the meantime, we encourage parents and teens to reach out to discuss individual therapy options or to express interest in a future group, so we can explore how to best meet the needs of younger clients.
Q&A with Christopher Montano, RO-DBT Therapist
Christopher Montano
Q: What do you find most rewarding about providing RO-DBT therapy?
Christopher: “Working with clients who struggle with over-control is incredibly rewarding because the changes, though gradual, can be profound. RO-DBT provides tools that help people open up in ways they might not have thought possible. It’s amazing to see someone go from feeling disconnected and emotionally inhibited to experiencing joy and connection in their relationships.”
Q: How does your DBT background influence your RO-DBT practice?
Christopher: “My DBT background is foundational to my work in RO-DBT. Understanding the principles of emotional regulation from DBT helps me identify when a client is stuck in over-control and how to guide them through the process of becoming more open and flexible. I also use DBT strategies to help clients manage the discomfort that comes with challenging these deeply ingrained patterns.”
Q: Can you describe a typical RO-DBT session at Suffolk DBT?
Christopher:
“In RO-DBT sessions, we focus on skills that directly target over-control, such as becoming more open to feedback, increasing flexibility in thinking, and expressing emotions more freely. While we follow a structured curriculum, sessions are highly interactive and often include real-time practice of these skills.
Group sessions are a key component of RO-DBT and provide opportunities to build social connectedness, practice new behaviors, and experience meaningful interaction with others. The overall goal is to help clients build a life that feels more connected, flexible, and fulfilling.”
GET STARTED TODAY
Ready to Get Started and speak with an Intake Specialist?
At Suffolk DBT, with offices in Suffolk County, Nassau County, NYC and telehealth offered throughout NYS , we’re here to support you in your journey toward a more open, connected, and fulfilling life. Whether you’re exploring RO-DBT as a new approach or continuing your therapeutic journey after standard DBT, our experienced clinicians are ready to guide you every step of the way. Our RO-DBT therapy services are designed to help you break free from the constraints of over-control, allowing you to embrace life with greater flexibility and emotional richness.
Completely confidential. Only takes 10-15 minutes.
