this is a DBT skill, but obviously not specific to DBT. Willingness and acceptance is something I have been working hard on for the past several months.

I remember someone in my DBT group saying "willingness is opening up, willfulness is shutting down" and that really hit home with me because I do tend to shut down, a LOT.

I just want to talk specifically about my relationship with my T here for a minute. I have wanted to shut down, to quit therapy and walk away, many, many times over the past 2.5 years. I have always ended up making the choice to be willing, not willful, and to open up rather than shutting down.

As it's coming up for me again lately, and increasingly often or so it seems, I am starting to wonder at what point it is not longer a matter of willingness/willfulness and becomes a matter of self-respect.