DBT Skills Groups

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a cognitive behavioral treatment developed by Marsha Linehan, PhD, ABPP. It emphasizes individual psychotherapy and group skills training classes to help people learn and use new skills and strategies to develop a life that they experience as worth living. DBT skills include skills for mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. DBT was originally developed to treat chronically suicidal individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD). It is now recognized as the gold standard psychological treatment for this population. In addition, research has shown that it is effective in treating a wide range of other disorders such as substance dependence, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and eating disorders.

Our office offers 10 week, DBT Skill Groups that meet 1-2 times p/month, and are designed for clients who are already actively in therapy. Our groups are highly psycho-educational, with focus on skill building rather than processing. The three areas we review in depth include: Mindfullness, Emotional Identification/Regulation, and Distress Tolerance. Groups do not replace individual counseling for clients, but accent their work through skill building.

 Our office is continually starting new adult and adolescent DBT Skills Groups throughout the year based on the need and desire from clients. If you are interested in learning more about groups for you or someone you care about, contact Sarah @ 315.415.1510 for more information.
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