DBT Skills Group

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy was developed by Marsha Linehan. She posited that emotional dysregulation is at the heart of many mental health challenges – the dysregulation can be both up (anxiety, mania) or down-regulated (depression).  Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills can be taught in individual sessions or in group sessions.

FIRST MODULE: MINDFULNESS

Individuals who experience dysregulation report feeling disconnected from others and even themselves. They can be judgmental and critical of themselves, and make interpretations and inferences based on their emotions rather than reality. Developing mindfulness skills can help with observing and noticing things about themselves and their world without judgment. It can help individuals be more aware of their internal states. Mindfulness skills lay the foundation for the next three modules.

SECOND MODULE: INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

Individuals with emotional dysregulation often have problematic relationships. They may have difficulty letting go of unhealthy relationships, may have trouble with boundaries, or expressing their needs to others. This module will teach some of these skills.

THIRD MODULE: EMOTION REGULATION SKILLS

Individuals will learn the purpose of their emotions, and the action tendencies associated with each emotion. For example, sadness may want us to withdraw from others for a little while. This module teaches individuals to recognize and label their emotions, to learn when and how they tend to avoid their emotions and to interrupt that pattern.

FOURTH MODULE: DISTRESS TOLERANCE SKILLS

Individuals who experience dysregulation may have learned maladaptive behaviours to help them cope with or avoid intense emotions. We all do this to some degree – from procrastination to using substances (even chocolate) or engaging in self-harming behaviours. These are all forms of emotional dysregulation as we are choosing to avoid the emotion or situation in front of us. This module will teach healthy and effective distress tolerance skills.

We are so excited to be offering a virtual DBT Skills Group this Spring. The group will be run by two seasoned and experienced therapists Tala Barrage and Sue Gonsalves.