The Role of Radical Acceptance in DBT

An important dialectical balance in DBT is ACCEPTANCE AND CHANGE.

This dynamic interplay forms the cornerstone of the therapeutic approach.

In DBT, you will often hear that acceptance is a prerequisite of change. Here, we view acceptance as a catalyst for change, not an obstacle. We can radically accept that we are imperfectly ourselves and simultaneously work toward change. We can radically accept that we don’t have all the answers and still look for them. Radical acceptance is a skill that takes continuous practice. It’s not a destination. 

If you’re uncomfortable with the term "acceptance,"change it for "acknowledgment" instead. Acceptance here does not equal us saying that we agree with the situation or that we like it. Remember in DBT we’re free from value judgments of good or bad. Acceptance is us saying, ‘I sure as heck don’t like this and it is what it is.’ We don’t have to accept tomorrow, we can accept what is RIGHT NOW with clear-eyed recognition of the current reality, even when that reality is unpleasant or challenging.

What does research have to say? 

A study involved 120 university participants with no prior DBT experience, got divided into three groups:

• Radical Acceptance group

• Check the Facts group

• Control group

Over a two-week period, participants attended six sessions, each lasting about 11 minutes. During these sessions, they recalled negative emotion-evoking events and practiced their assigned skill.

What did they find?

Radical acceptance led to a greater reduction in negative emotions and a larger increase in positive emotions compared to the control group. Practicing radical acceptance enhanced participants' ability to use both emotional acceptance and cognitive reappraisal for regulating negative emotions.

Radical acceptance is a challenging and powerful tool to pick up. It can offer a path to navigate challenges with greater resilience and inner peace. As the research demonstrates, this practice not only reduces negative emotions but also cultivates positive ones, enhancing our overall emotional well-being. 

It's important to remember that radical acceptance is not about passive resignation, but rather an active, conscious choice to acknowledge our current reality without judgment. This skill, when practiced consistently, can lead to profound changes. You can embrace radical acceptance as an ongoing process—that creates space for both acceptance and change, paving the way for a more balanced life.

Reference:

• Linehan, M. M. (2015). DBT® skills training manual (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.

• Segal, O., Sher, H., Aderka, I. M., & Weinbach, N. (2023). Does acceptance lead to change? Training in radical acceptance improves implementation of cognitive reappraisal. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 164, 104303.