DBT House / DBH-A11-1
The Self-Respect Space — Concept brief
Understand the idea behind the self-respect space and consider whether it fits your context.
8 minutes · Handout · Adults; supported use as appropriate
Fictional example: Riley wants to decline an extra task without making an excuse.
Use an ordinary or fictional example, with a clinician when appropriate. Self-respect can be considered alongside an immediate outcome.
The idea
Self-respect can be considered alongside an immediate outcome.
An ordinary example
Riley wants to decline an extra task without making an excuse.
What this can look like
Describe one boundary or honest statement you want to preserve during a low-stakes conversation.
Check the fit
What would help you leave the interaction aligned with your priorities? You may disagree with the framing, use fiction, or decide that this approach is not useful today.
A useful distinction
A house metaphor is an organizing option, not a diagnostic test, safety determination, or required way to represent experience.
Prompts for this resource
- What part of this idea makes sense to me?
- What would help you leave the interaction aligned with your priorities?
Conceptual background
Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training: Fundamentals — Behavioral Tech Institute
Background on the approach only. Original exercises and wording are by More Than Therapy with AI assistance; the source does not validate or endorse these materials.