ABSTRACT
Similar to the previous chapter, dialectics is not a module in DBT skills training, but dialectics is one of the key concepts of DBT. Linehan notes the importance of teaching patients to begin to think dialectically (the opposite of dichotomously or in “black and white”). Persons often struggle in life because their non-dialectical view of life is oversimplified to the point that it does not give them an accurate perceptive map of themselves, their relationships, and the problems they struggle with. A dialectic is a synthesis or integration of opposites; it assumes that there can be two opposing truths that are both true and relevant. This concept can be difficult for most of us to comprehend and apply in our daily lives. This chapter includes 14 metaphors and examples of thinking dialectically.
