Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

COMPREHENSIVE FULL FIDELITY DBT PROGRAM

Grimes Effective Counseling offers a full-fidelity, comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) program. DBT is an evidence-based treatment that incorporates acceptance-based strategies such as mindfulness and validation and the standard change strategies of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). DBT teaches a “dialectical” way of thinking. In DBT, we work to balance necessary change with acceptance of the current situation as it is.

DBT can be especially useful for managing painful emotions that seem to be unbearable, quickly changing emotions and moods, emotions that control your life and lead to impulsive behavior, intense self-hatred and shame, intense feelings of emptiness, loneliness or numbness, relationship problems due to a fear of abandonment, intense sensitivity to criticism, and vulnerability to irritability or anger.

DBT is also exceptionally helpful for learning how to manage struggles such as self-harming or suicidal behaviors, eating disorders, as well as substance use disorders and other ineffective behaviors people use to cope with uncomfortable emotions.

DBT is designed to run as a comprehensive model that includes four components:

• Weekly Individual Therapy Sessions: Work with one of our DBT-trained therapists.
• Weekly DBT Skills Learning Sessions: Group sessions that have a classroom feel, designed to increase your competence in the areas of mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
• Phone Coaching: As needed, designed to generalize what is being learned in therapy to your everyday life. Provided by your individual therapist via phone calls or text messages.
• DBT Consultation: Your therapist meets with other DBT trained therapists to ensure they are giving the best care for you or your family member in accordance with the DBT model. 

WHAT HAPPENS IN A DBT SKILLS LEARNING GROUP?

The DBT Skills Learning Groups are run by an experienced DBT-trained therapist covering four training modules: Core Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotion Regulation, and Distress Tolerance. Each module is designed to help you gain a better sense of emotional control and tolerate the moment by being more mindful of the present.
DBT Skills Group is NOT a process group, it is more like a class. Participating in the group requires completing a daily diary card as well as other homework outside of group meetings. It requires adopting a general willingness to make healthy but difficult changes in your life. The group is conducted in an extremely supportive and nonjudgmental space.
During the group, participants may be asked to share relevant experiences from their week for the purpose of exploring which skills were used or not used. During the second half of the group, a new skill is taught using didactic techniques, role plays, and discussions. The group includes 4 modules that usually take about 6-8 months to complete. It is highly suggested that clients stay for two rounds of skills in order to fully absorb and apply the skills in their lives.

ADOLESCENT/TWEEN DBT GROUP

The Adolescent/Tween DBT Skills Learning group includes four modules that usually take about 6-8 months to complete. It is highly suggested that clients stay for two rounds of skills in order to fully absorb and apply the skills in their lives. It is also strongly encouraged that at least one parent, guardian, or family member participate in the family skills group which is held once a week, where we will teach and review all the skills we learned in groups. This gives families an opportunity to learn and reinforce the skills at home.

GETTING STARTED

As a part of the full-fidelity DBT progam our office requires that you have an individual therapist that you see on a regular basis in order to participate in the DBT Skills Learning Group. If you have established care with a therapist outside of our practice, you may keep seeing that therapist while attending our groups. Prior to getting started in the DBT Skills Learning Group our clinican will schedule a consultation phone call with your current therapist to ensure coordination of care. If you do not have a therapist established, we are happy to talk with you about scheduling with one of our DBT-trained clinicians. 

Prior to starting in DBT Skills Learning Group the leading group clinician will meet with you to perform an inital assessment as well as an orientation to get you started in the group. 

DBT Skills Learning group is an elective group to learn the skills of Dialectical Behavior Therapy, these groups are not billable to insurance and are offered as a self-pay service. DBT Skills Learning Group is a commitment to a specific group that you will attend reguarly. Drop ins are not permitted.