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Published:
2023-02-03
Updated:
2025-04-23
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4,143
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9/?
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The Brainwashed Cyborg's Guide to Being a Person

Summary:

The Winter Soldier learns how to be a person again, maybe even a person who could call himself Bucky Barnes. Story told through DBT worksheets and other therapy-related ephemera.

Author's first fic, please be nice to me. <3

Notes:

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is basically an instruction manual for dealing with your feelings and other people. It struck me that a recently un-brainwashed Bucky Barnes might find the algorithmic nature of DBT to be Actually Helpful.

Disclaimer: DBT materials used in this fic belong to Marsha Linehan. All therapeutic centers, therapists, etc. are completely made up and not intended to resemble real life things. (I did steal the address from an actual DBT therapy place, but I know nothing about the place.)

(Links with more info about DBT in the chapter end notes.)

Note: Each chapter will have an image version of whatever media, followed by a text transcription.

Chapter 1: INTAKE ~ Intake Assessment

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Preface: Intake

Image description: a form filled out in a dense but legible script.

Brooklyn Center for Evidence-Based Therapies

Intake Assessment

Clinician: Christopher Lyons
Date: 8/21/14
Client Name: James Buchanan
DOB: unknown

Presenting information

James is a young adult in his 30s (reported specific age unknown) who identifies as male and lives in Brooklyn. He reported seeking treatment for “learning how to be a person”. When pressed, he specified that he would like to improve his interpersonal skills and self-care habits. He reported having no close relationships with family or friends.

Behavioral observations

James appeared carefully groomed and was dressed in heavy, dark-colored clothing despite warm weather. Affect was cautious and alert, highly reactive to movement and sounds; facial affect was very limited, and he avoided eye contact. James responded willingly to questions, but did not offer additional information. He appeared to have word-finding difficulty at times.

History and Treatment

James reported no history of receiving treatment (body language suggests this may be untruthful?). He reported difficulties with dissociation, agoraphobia, panic attacks, rage, self-harm, suicidality, nightmares, paranoia, and flashbacks. He reported that he is not currently receiving any medications, and strongly rejected considering medication as an option.

Current Difficulties

Based on his report, James endorsed problems related to PTSD, panic disorder with agoraphobia, major depressive disorder, and possible schizoaffective disorder.

Medical

James reported no medical problems for which he is currently receiving treatment.

Treatment Plan

Based on James’ reported difficulties with mood regulation and interpersonal interactions, clinician recommended DBT/adjunctive DBT skills training. This is an evidence-based cognitive behavioral intervention with skills training in mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance.

Notes:

All "Brooklyn Center for Evidence-Based Therapies" materials were designed by me, with contents derived from my own therapy experiences.

More info about DBT:

  • The Cleveland Clinic has a nice overview.
  • Also a good overview on Psychology Today.
  • DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets by Marsha Linehan ~ This book is the DBT bible. It's like 500 pages long. Bucky's worksheets will (mostly) come from here.
  • Pocket Therapy for Emotional Balance by Matthew McKay et al. ~ This is a nice little intro to DBT skills for people who are curious and want to try it on their own.

Thanks to Ana, Katie, and Elle, my wonderful (ding! judgment) and supportive DBT instructors (and thanks in particular to Katie for answering my questions for this fic!), and thanks also to the members of my DBT group, who are such cheerleaders for one another.