Dr. Lynn K. Jones, PCC, BCC, NBC-HWC, Executive Coach

Catalight Research Institute and Easterseals Northern California are thrilled to share our latest research! 🎉 Compass-Behavioral is a neuroaffirming behavioral coaching program designed to help autistic youth build the executive functioning skills that matter most to them. Using Motivational Interviewing and a collaborative coaching framework, Compass-B meets each participant where they are, honors their goals and lived experiences, and supports meaningful growth. We’re excited to share these findings with our community—and grateful for the participants, families, and clinicians who make this work possible. More to come! Kudos to our team: Doreen Samelson EdD, MSCP (she/her), Jennifer Ikola, Brianna Fitchett, MA, MPH, BCBA, Michelle Befi, MA, LMFT, LMHC, Vincent Bemmel, PhD, Ben Pfingston and myself ☺️ https://lnkd.in/gB-JJebr

71

7 Comments

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) incorporates mindfulness practices to help individuals regulate emotions, tolerate distress, and improve interpersonal effectiveness. One powerful mindfulness tool often used within DBT is the RAIN technique an acronym that stands for Recognize, Allow, Investigate, and Nurture. RAIN is designed to guide individuals through emotional discomfort with compassion and clarity, transforming reactive patterns into moments of insight and healing. Recognize is the first step, inviting individuals to pause and identify what they’re experiencing emotionally or physically. This might mean acknowledging feelings of anger, sadness, shame, or anxiety without judgment. In DBT, this aligns with the skill of observing becoming aware of internal states as they arise. Recognition creates a space between stimulus and response, allowing for conscious engagement rather than automatic reactivity. Allow encourages acceptance of the experience without trying to suppress, fix, or avoid it. This step is deeply connected to DBT’s distress tolerance skills, which emphasize radical acceptance. By allowing emotions to be present, individuals begin to dismantle the resistance that often intensifies suffering. It’s not about resignation but about making room for what is, which paradoxically opens the door to change. Investigate involves gently exploring the emotion or experience with curiosity. In DBT, this mirrors the practice of describing and participating engaging with the moment to understand its roots and impact. Questions like “What does this feeling need?” or “What belief is fueling this reaction?” help uncover underlying narratives. This step fosters emotional insight and helps individuals reframe their experience in a more empowering way. Nurture is the final step, where individuals offer themselves compassion and care. This is where DBT’s emphasis on self-validation and wise mind comes into play. Nurturing might involve self-soothing, affirming one’s worth, or simply acknowledging the difficulty of the moment with kindness. The outcome of RAIN is not just emotional regulation but a deeper sense of self-connection and resilience. Ultimately, the purpose of RAIN in DBT is to transform emotional suffering into a pathway for growth. By moving through each step with intention, individuals learn to relate to their inner experiences with less fear and more compassion. The outcome is a more grounded, mindful presence one that supports emotional balance, healthier relationships, and a greater capacity for wise decision-making. RAIN doesn’t eliminate pain, but it teaches us how to hold it with grace.

1,106

74 Comments

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a structured, evidence-based approach developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan to support emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindful living. As mental health professionals, we often look for ways to translate these powerful skills into **practical, everyday use**—both for ourselves and for our clients. That’s where the **DBT Cheat Sheet** becomes especially useful. This printable, therapist-designed guide offers a clear, at-a-glance overview of core DBT concepts—making complex skills easier to teach, learn, and revisit. Key Features: * Emotion Regulation strategies * Distress Tolerance techniques * Interpersonal Effectiveness tools * Walking the Middle Path framework * Mindfulness-based practices * Quick-reference DBT skills overview Use it to: * Reinforce skill-building during sessions * Provide clear psychoeducational handouts * Support group therapy and skills training * Train interns, trainees, and supervisees Practical. Accessible. Clinically grounded. 👉 Download now: https://lnkd.in/gWmpVhnA #DialecticalBehaviorTherapy #DBTSkills #TherapistTools #MentalHealthProfessionals #ClinicalResources #CounsellorResources #EvidenceBasedPractice #TherapyWorksheets #ClientPsychoeducation #ritudahiya

479

11 Comments

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a structured, evidence-based approach developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan to support emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindful living. As mental health professionals, we often look for ways to translate these powerful skills into **practical, everyday use**—both for ourselves and for our clients. That’s where the **DBT Cheat Sheet** becomes especially useful. This printable, therapist-designed guide offers a clear, at-a-glance overview of core DBT concepts—making complex skills easier to teach, learn, and revisit. Key Features: * Emotion Regulation strategies * Distress Tolerance techniques * Interpersonal Effectiveness tools * Walking the Middle Path framework * Mindfulness-based practices * Quick-reference DBT skills overview Use it to: * Reinforce skill-building during sessions * Provide clear psychoeducational handouts * Support group therapy and skills training * Train interns, trainees, and supervisees Practical. Accessible. Clinically grounded. 👉 Download now: https://lnkd.in/gWmpVhnA #DialecticalBehaviorTherapy #DBTSkills #TherapistTools #MentalHealthProfessionals #ClinicalResources #CounsellorResources #EvidenceBasedPractice #TherapyWorksheets #ClientPsychoeducation #ritudahiya

458

11 Comments

This 2006 article by Nancy C. Andreasen is essential reading for anyone interested in issues of psychiatric diagnosis and classification. Andreasen, one of the architects of DSM-III, reflects on its unintended consequences: the triumph of what is useful over what is real. Free full text: https://lnkd.in/e76Nveiy

176

14 Comments

After years of direct work with perpetrators, partnering with survivors, and supporting professionals working with domestic abuse, I developed the Perpetrator Pattern Mapping Tool. What started as simple "paper and pen" form has morphed into a full blown online tool. It can be used by individual workers directly with survivors or on its own; by supervisors for quality assurance and guidance; and by teams to organize and structure information collected across services. It helps practitioners of all backgrounds (and survivors) identify the impact of those behaviors on child , partner and family functioning. It also helps map survivors' protective efforts in the context of the abuse, worker safety, and more! It is available for use by anyone. https://lnkd.in/dPQtUg33 https://lnkd.in/dqbAZZYc #StopBlamingMothers #StopIgorningFathers #DVInformed #CoerciveControl

28

7 Comments

In this conversation, Neurodivergent ("AuDHD") behavior analysts Robin Arnall, Ph.D. (She/her) and Alexandra Elfers discuss the importance of autonomy in behavioral assessments and practices, emphasizing the need for flexibility and cultural responsiveness. They explore the complexities of supporting individuals with diverse needs, the significance of understanding behavior beyond mere topography, and the necessity of considering the perspectives of those receiving support. The dialogue highlights the challenges faced in the field of behavior analysis, particularly regarding the balance between safety and autonomy and the importance of adapting practices to meet the unique needs of each individual. https://lnkd.in/gdpKKqfV https://lnkd.in/gjBiRqzQ https://lnkd.in/g2s_FDPB

26

Somatic Approaches to Healing Racial Trauma and Cultural Wounds In the evolving landscape of trauma therapy, somatic approaches have emerged as powerful tools for addressing wounds that transcend individual experience—specifically, the deep-seated impacts of racial trauma and cultural oppression. These body-centered healing modalities recognize what many communities of color have long understood: trauma lives not just in our memories and thoughts, but in our physical bodies, and sometimes across generations. Understanding Racial Trauma in the Body "The body keeps the score of our racialized experiences," explains Dr. Resmaa Menakem, somatic therapist and author of "My Grandmother's Hands." "Racial trauma doesn't just affect our thinking—it creates a particular signature in our nervous systems, one that can be passed down through generations." This understanding marks a significant shift in trauma treatment. While conventional therapy has often focused on cognitive processing, somatic approaches acknowledge that experiences of discrimination, microaggressions, and historical oppression create physiological responses that cognitive approaches alone cannot address. "When someone experiences racial discrimination, their body enters a stress response," notes Dr. Jennifer Kim, somatic practitioner specializing in cultural trauma. "Over time, these responses become embedded patterns—tension in specific body areas, altered breathing, chronic vigilance. These patterns don't simply disappear when we talk about them." Intergenerational Dimensions Perhaps most groundbreaking is the somatic understanding of how trauma passes through generations—a reality many Indigenous and Black communities have recognized for centuries. "Our ancestors' unresolved trauma doesn't just live in family stories," explains Rebeca Martinez, somatic experiencing practitioner. "Recent epigenetic research suggests trauma can actually influence gene expression. But even before science caught up, our communities knew that our grandparents' and parents' pain somehow became our own." Somatic approaches help identify and release these inherited trauma patterns through guided awareness of bodily sensations, movement practices, and nervous system regulation techniques. Culturally-Responsive Somatic Practices Traditional somatic therapy, while valuable, often emerges from Western and European frameworks. Today's practitioners of color are adapting and expanding these approaches to incorporate cultural wisdom and ancestral healing practices. "I integrate traditional Mexican curanderismo with somatic experiencing," says Elena Avila, a somatic practitioner in New Mexico. "When clients reconnect with cultural healing practices their ancestors used, we often see profound shifts. The body recognizes these ancestral patterns as resources rather than just focusing on trauma." This integration creates more accessible pathways to healing for communities Rest in comments⬇️⬇️⬇️

10

3 Comments

Shaping young minds starts with understanding their behavior. Applied Behavior Analysis in Early Childhood Education by Laura Baylot Casey & Stacy L. Carter is an essential guide for educators, therapists, and caregivers who want to make a real difference in children’s lives, both typically developing and those with special needs. From evidence-based teaching strategies to practical solutions for classroom and home challenges, this book covers: ✔ Effective techniques for positive behavior change ✔ Communication and social skill development ✔ Strategies for feeding, toileting, and managing anxieties ✔ Building strong partnerships with parents and caregivers 📖 A must-read for anyone in early childhood education, special education, or child development who is committed to creating supportive, growth-oriented environments for young learners. 🔄 Repost to share this valuable resource with educators and child development professionals! ✅ Follow for more psychology & education-related book recommendations!

122

10 Comments

Trauma can disrupt the brain's integration, leading to dissociation and impacting overall well-being. In a concise 4-minute video, Dr. Pat Ogden demonstrates an approach to help clients reconnect with the present moment and foster brain integration. This resource is invaluable for mental health professionals seeking effective strategies to support clients in healing from trauma.​ Watch the video here: ​bit.ly/3QYQxJi #TraumaHealing #BrainIntegration #MentalHealthResources #ProfessionalDevelopment

130

1 Comment

Honored to join @neshnikolic on the Better Thinking podcast to discuss a topic close to my heart: using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in trauma work. We discuss how ACT's principles align with trauma recovery The importance of flexibility in therapeutic approaches Building a client-centered practice Integrating evidence-based methods with human connection Whether you're a clinician or someone interested in psychological approaches to trauma, this conversation offers insights into the healing journey. Listen to Episode #176 of Better Thinking - link in bio 🎧 #ACT #TraumaRecovery #Psychology #TherapistLife #MentalHealth #PsychologyPodcast #TraumaHealing #TherapyTalk #ClinicalPsychology #BetterThinking #ProfessionalDevelopment #EvidenceBasedPractice

49

1 Comment