Welcome
I am Ilyse Dobrow DiMarco, Ph.D., a licensed clinical
psychologist and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) specialist who
practices in Northern New Jersey. I hope this website will be a useful resource for anyone
interested in learning more about what CBT is and how to access it.
Thoughts on Therapy
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The important balance between acceptance and change
In her Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Marsha Linehan
stresses the need for people to strive for both
acceptance and change.
That is, people are encouraged to accept their
current life circumstances, and at the same time, work
towards changing these circumstances.
It’s obvious why change is important.
So, why is acceptance important?
Often, people blame themselves for their problems, and
struggle with shame and self-loathing.
Mired in self-blame and negativity, they are
unable to think flexibly about how best to improve their
circumstances.
However, once they learn to accept where they’re
at, and treat themselves with compassion, they are in a
better position to see the options before them and make
important changes.
Acceptance work is a critical aspect of CBT for any
problem.
Both acceptance and change are critical for treatment
success.
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In the News
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And speaking of Marsha Linehan...Dr.
Linehan
recently discussed her own past struggles with
Borderline Personality Disorder and how they inspired her to
develop Dialectical Behavior Therapy, a popular adaptation
of CBT used to treat Borderline Personality Disorder,
suicidality, and other issues. |
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Give yourself a break! A
recent blog post in the New York Times discusses the
potential role of self-compassion in facilitating behavior
change and improving mood. It cites the work of Dr. Kristin
Neff, who underscores the importance of being kind to
oneself and accepting one's shortcomings. |