DBT Skills Group
Description: This group is for people struggling with overwhelming emotions, harmful or impulsive behaviours, and/or interpersonal challenges. Dialectical Behavioural Therapy involves both change-oriented concepts and skills from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) as well as acceptance-oriented concepts and skills from mindfulness practices. DBT helps people accept that their experiences and responses are valid AND that they have to make positive changes to manage their emotions and improve their quality of life. DBT skills broadly fall into four categories: Distress Tolerance, Mindfulness, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness. This group is primarily run virtually (Zoom), however, there may be an in-person offering in the future if there is enough interest.
Learning Objectives:
- To learn and build skills in the areas of mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness
- To enhance overall wellbeing and one’s sense of being able to cope with life’s challenges and difficult situations
Length:
This group entails:
- An initial assessment
- An orientation and foundations group session
- 3 modules with 4 weekly sessions each, totalling 12 sessions, with a one week break between modules
- Group involvement from beginning to end is usually 4 months
Group facilitators: Two Registered Social Workers or one Registered Social Worker and one Master’s of Social Work student
Group Size: 6 – 10
Referral: Please ask your primary care provider for a referral to the DBT Skills Group in the Mental Health Program. Once your provider has made a referral, you are required to call and activate that referral, at which point you will be placed on a waiting list. When there is space available in an upcoming group, you will be contacted to be booked for an intake assessment to determine your eligibility for the group and ensure it is the right fit for you. Please note that a referral from your primary care provider does not guarantee participation in the group.
Upcoming group dates:
- Spring/Summer 2025; Wednesday mornings, starting Apr 23 to July 30, 10am to 12:30pm
- Fall/Winter 2025-6; Wednesday afternoons, starting Oct 15 to Jan 28, 1:30 to 4pm
- Spring 2026; Wednesday afternoons, starting Mar 4 to Jun 10, 1:30 to 4pm