What is the DBT informed group?
The DBT informed group is is a Dialectical Behaviour Therapy informed skills-based intervention for people who experience difficulties in managing their emotions or levels of distress.
The group is split into modules focusing on key skills to help manage distress.
What people said about it...
"I never thought I was going to say this...but I am going to miss therapy“.
"This course is literally the first time ever, throughout almost 16 years of different therapies, medical treatments, group support and more, that I have ACTUALLY felt listened to, understood and not alone".
Who is the group for?
The DBT informed group is for people who may experience difficulties with the following things:
- Sudden mood changes that can feel intense and overwhelming.
- Relationships may be challenging, including being intense or unstable, or you may avoid relationships all together.
- Feeling unsure of your identity.
- Acting impulsively to manage overwhelming or distressing emotions.
- Feelings of emptiness inside.
How long does the group last?
The group runs for 14 weeks and meets online weekly for 2 hours (with a break in the middle). You will be expected to attend each group to get the most out of the intervention.
Where does the group take place?
The group is currently run online via MS Teams. The clinician you meet with will give you details of how to access the group.
How many people will be in the group?
There will be approximately 15 participants in every group. They will be the same for the entire 14 weeks.
Three members of our team will facilitate the group. Sometimes trainees may observe to learn to become a facilitator. We will tell you if there are any trainees observing at the start of the first session.
What will be expected of me?
Prior to joining the group, you will be invited to attend a 1:1 appointment with one or both of the group facilitators to ensure the intervention is appropriate to meet your needs and to ensure you are ready to commit.
If following this, you are invited to join our DBT informed skills group, you will be expected to attend our weekly group online.
What does the group involve?
The DBT informed group works by teaching group members skills to effectively manage specific areas of difficulty around complex emotional needs/emotional intensity. The group will be split into 4 modules with each module relating to common areas of difficulties.
Mindfulness
The mindfulness skills taught are psychological and behavioural meditation practices drawn from Eastern traditions. It focuses on states of mind known as “emotional mind” and “rational mind”. It attempts to balance the two to produce a third mental state known as “wise mind”.
Interpersonal Effectiveness
This module focuses on learning skills to be effective in managing relationships with others. This includes assertiveness, managing conflicts and being able to do this in the context of experiencing emotional intensity.
Distress Tolerance
This module teaches skills to manage distress and will help you learn to tolerate difficult or uncomfortable feelings and emotions in a way that avoids resorting to impulsive or unhelpful strategies. It teaches skills to utilise and help you cope in a highly emotive state.
Emotional Regulation
In this module you will learn about emotions and their importance. It will look at how to name the ones we experience and skills to manage difficult or problematic emotions.
The course will also look at community connections and explore future steps.
What if I feel nervous about group work?
It is perfectly natural to feel nervous about meeting a group of new people and sharing your problems with them. It is important to highlight that this is not a therapy group, this is a skills-based group. All group members are there to learn new skills and new ways of coping. Group members are discouraged from sharing personal information or discussing historic abuse or trauma (or any other sensitive subject which may trigger others) during the group. People are asked to describe their problems in a broad manner and discussing incidents such as self-harm, is against the group rules.
Research has shown that working in a group with others who have similar experiences or similar areas of difficulties, has very beneficial outcomes. Everything in the group is kept confidential and the group leaders are there to monitor and support the group.