Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Programme

12-18 months support

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is one of the most researched treatments for people with difficulties in regulating their emotions. It was originally developed by Dr Marsha Linehan for self-harming individuals who met criteria for borderline personality disorder (BPD). DBT is a team-based programme which entails weekly individual therapy and skills classes, phone skills coaching available seven days a week and DBT team consultation. It was proven effective in reducing suicidal behaviour, self-injury, impulsivity, disruptions to personal relationships and improving social and overall functioning. DBT is also applied as a treatment for eating and mood disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, childhood sexual abuse and substance dependency.

Structure

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a twice weekly programme which entails individual therapy and skills classes.

Skills classes can be attended in one of the three locations or online via video conferencing:

King's Cross in central London: Barnsbury Community Centre, 10 Jays Street, London, N1 0TJ

Angel in Islington: Brighter Spaces, 2A Prebend Street, Islington, London, N1 8PT

What will I learn

Skills Classes Content

There are four DBT modules which are attended as part of the full DBT programme. It takes 34 weeks to complete them all once. However, the recommended length of this intensive treatment is at least one year as evidence by clinical trials. This is subject to individual circumstances.

Core Mindfulness and the Middle Path module consists of 6 weekly sessions and is designed to teach you how to increase your awareness levels, focus better, train your attention, decrease reactivity and judgmentalness, accept current moment experiences, be more dialectical and less controlled by extremes.

Distress Tolerance lasts for 8 weeks and is centred on accepting difficult situations and emotions and finding ways to survive and tolerate the moment without engaging in problematic behaviours such as self-harm, conflict or impulsive substance misuse.

Emotion Regulation entails 12 weekly classes and involves learning to recognise and label current emotions, identify obstacles to changing emotions, reduce emotional reactivity, increase positive emotions, and change emotions that are unhelpful or unwarranted.

Interpersonal Effectiveness is spread over 8 weeks and teaches effective strategies for asking for what you need, saying no, setting boundaries and coping with interpersonal conflict. This module is of particular relevance to individuals who experience their relationships as chaotic, intense and unstable, and it teaches strategies for maintaining balanced relationships.

Advanced DBT Skills is an optional 12-week module for people who have mastered the skills in each of the core modules listed above and now want to enhance their existing skills and learn new ones. In this module you will learn about the theory and practice of dialectical thinking, validation of self and others, building new relationships, getting people to like you, ending hopeless relationships, mindfulness of others, reinforcement and strategies for changing behaviour, and many others. This module is also open to people who have completed standard DBT elsewhere.

Fees

Fees for this intensive programme range from £175 to £235 a week and include one to one session, skills class and access to skills coaching available at times of heightened distress seven days a week.

If finance is problematic or if you receive individual therapy elsewhere, it is possible to commit to attending the skills classes alone at £75 per 90-minute session.

DBT: Services