A DBT Skills Group is just 1 of the 4 modes of treatment that comprises Full Comprehensive DBT; therefore, clients will get the most out of a DBT skills training group if the participant is also receiving individual DBT treatment from a fully trained DBT therapist. Clients learn the skills in the group, and the individual therapist helps the client apply those skills to their individual life issues/treatment needs. Recently, research has shown that clients can still benefit from attending only the skills group, but the benefits are not as large as the benefits of completing Full Comprehensive DBT. Our center will assess clients’ appropriateness of enrolling into one of our Skills Groups , whether the client has a DBT therapist (or non-DBT therapist) are does not have a therapist/outside provider on a case-by-case basis and if there is availability in the client’s preferred group. This assessment will take place during the client’s initial intake call with our intake coordinator (call: (813) 434-0094). After the intake, for clients who wish to join a DBT Skills Group but are not currently working with a therapist at our center (group-only client), the co-leader of the client’s preferred group will schedule a virtual one-on-one 30-45min Group Orientation to further assess client’s appropriateness of joining the group and to further orient the client to the group structure and expectations. The Group Orientation is a standard fee of $65.00. For TBC for CBT comprehensive DBT clients, new group members will be added after being fully prepared by the individual therapist and when there is an opening and this usually takes 3-6 weeks. Preparation consists of the therapist orienting the client to how the group works, and some introductory concepts, and insuring commitment to attending.
The group is focused on enhancing clients’ capabilities by teaching them behavioral skills. The group is run like a class where the group leader teaches the skills and assigns homework for clients to practice using the skills in their everyday lives. Groups meet on a weekly basis for approximately 2 hours, and it takes 24 weeks to get through the full DBT skills curriculum (6-months), which is often repeated to create a 1-year program. The decision to repeat the group is made by the client and individual therapist.
The DBT Skills Group consists of 4 modules, with each module lasting 6 weeks long (6 group sessions). Each module will conclude with the 6th group session, also known as the “transition session”, which is a session used to welcome new participants, or to graduate members who are leaving the group. The maximum number of participants in each group is 8. The fee for each group is $65.00 per group if the client or family is receiving individual therapy or other services within TBC for CBT and $70.00 per group if the client has an outside provider and is doing “Group-Only“ at TBC for CBT. Since group-only clients are those who are not seen by an individual therapist at our center, it is protocol that the co-leader of the client’s group schedule a 30-minute Zoom session with the client on a once-per-module basis for a check-in session. This check-in session is a standard fee of $40.00. Members are financially responsible for paying for group for each module regardless of attendance. See the calendar on the website for current dates and times of the group. Participants will purchase the DBT Skills Handouts and Worksheets by Marsha Linehan (2nd Edition) as that is the manual we will be teaching from.
DBT Skills Modules:
- Mindfulness: the practice of being fully aware and present in this one moment and Walking the Middle Path; which teaches Dialectics, Behaviorism and Validation.
- Distress Tolerance: How to tolerate pain in difficult situations, not change it
- Emotion Regulation: how to change emotions that you want to change
- Interpersonal Effectiveness: how to ask for what you want and say no while maintaining self-respect and relationships with others
ADULT DBT Skills Groups currently offered:
- Monday Adult DBT Group: 11:00AM to 1:00PM, via Zoom
- Thursday Adult DBT Group: 6:00PM to 8:00PM, via Zoom