Mindful Psychology Associates

Licensed Clinical Psychologists in Evanston, Illinois

MPA Now Offering RO-DBT Individual Therapy and Class!

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In Spring 2018, practice owner and licensed clinical psychologist Jennifer Panning, PsyD, completed the first week of an intensive two-week training on Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO-DBT or RO). Dr. Panning is excited to finalize the program this fall and bring this new evidence-based treatment to Mindful Psychology Associates.

RO-DBT was developed by Thomas Lynch, PhD, and his colleagues, and has been empirically validated and researched with clients for 20 years. This year, Dr. Lynch published a textbook and skills training manual for psychologists, making Radically Open therapy more accessible for clinicians and their prospective clients.

RO is a trans-diagnostic treatment approach, meaning that it was not designed for one particular diagnosis. However, if you struggle with any of the following problems, you may benefit from RO treatment:

  • Treatment resistant depression
  • Anxiety
  • Anorexia Nervosa
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCDP)

For more information on the treatment approach, visit the Radically Open website.

While traditional DBT is helpful for individuals who need more help regulating and controlling emotions, RO-DBT is designed for those who benefit from goals of openness and flexibility.

radically open therapy

If you identify with any or all of the following traits, you may benefit from RO-DBT:

  • Rigidity in behaviors or thinking (perfectionism)
  • Excessive need to be in control (over control)
  • Difficulty accessing emotions
  • Social isolation
  • Emotionally shut down or guarded

Dr. Contarino is currently accepting referrals for clients for RO-DBT. Since RO is a structured treatment, you may benefit from RO even if you are already in traditional talk therapy. Dr. Contarino will consult and collaborate with your current therapist.

Coming this fall, Dr. Contarino and Heather Stephenson, PhD, will offer RO-DBT skills training class! This class will be limited to ten participants and will meet in our Evanston office. Please contact Dr. Contarino for more information on either of these offerings.