What happens in a DBT Class and how is it different from other therapy groups?
DBT Skills group is not a process group.
In Process Groups the focus in usually on processing feelings between group members, which can be helpful in the right situation. When is comes to learning new skills, a focus on processing feelings can actually get in the way of learning. In DBT skills group the focus in on learning new skills and supporting clients in the use of those skills.
DBT Skills group is not a support group in the traditional sense.
Clients get lots of support and encouragement in learning the skills and practicing them in their lives. In DBT skills group you only briefly share details of your personal life and only as they relate to your practicing of the skills. Clients in our groups often appreciate this.
DBT Skills group is more like a class.
Joining a DBT Skills group is similar to taking a class...except without the pressure of tests, reading assignments, and grades! Skills group clients learn new skills each week, and their homework is to practice these new tools in their real life. Each week they give a brief recap of how this practice went during homework review.
The flow of DBT group.
Mindfulness Practice
Each session of DBT Skills group begins with a 5-10 minute Mindfulness practice. Learning to be present in the current moment (DBT's definition of mindfulness) is a foundational skill in DBT, and we practice it each week. How we practice mindfulness varies from week to week. Sometimes the practice may be more like meditation, other times it might be more interactive. Clients don't need any previous experience in mindfulness. All instructions are included with each practice.
Homework Review
Some participants get stressed out at the thought of homework because it brings up negative associations with school. Our facilitators understand that, and often even relate to it! In DBT Skills group we give you a framework of what questions to answer about your homework practice. The questions are short, and easy to answer. It's also helpful to remember that everyone else participating in the group was new once, and most of them will have been nervous too. The purpose of homework review is to give you an opportunity to share your skills use and also to provide motivation to practice during the week.
Break
About halfway through the 2 hour class we take a 10 minute break.
Learning a new skill(s)
The last portion of the class is dedication to learning new skill(s). The skills in DBT are broken down into the following 3 modules:
The very last task of the DBT Skills group is to assign Skills Practice for the upcoming week. To help you record your homework, we will often assign one or two short worksheets. These worksheets will remind you of what you did to practice the skills during the week and what you would like to share during Homework review. The worksheets are for your use and aren't shared with class facilitators or other members of the class. We end our classes by inviting everyone to unmute and say goodbye or wave enthusiastically!
In Process Groups the focus in usually on processing feelings between group members, which can be helpful in the right situation. When is comes to learning new skills, a focus on processing feelings can actually get in the way of learning. In DBT skills group the focus in on learning new skills and supporting clients in the use of those skills.
DBT Skills group is not a support group in the traditional sense.
Clients get lots of support and encouragement in learning the skills and practicing them in their lives. In DBT skills group you only briefly share details of your personal life and only as they relate to your practicing of the skills. Clients in our groups often appreciate this.
DBT Skills group is more like a class.
Joining a DBT Skills group is similar to taking a class...except without the pressure of tests, reading assignments, and grades! Skills group clients learn new skills each week, and their homework is to practice these new tools in their real life. Each week they give a brief recap of how this practice went during homework review.
The flow of DBT group.
Mindfulness Practice
Each session of DBT Skills group begins with a 5-10 minute Mindfulness practice. Learning to be present in the current moment (DBT's definition of mindfulness) is a foundational skill in DBT, and we practice it each week. How we practice mindfulness varies from week to week. Sometimes the practice may be more like meditation, other times it might be more interactive. Clients don't need any previous experience in mindfulness. All instructions are included with each practice.
Homework Review
Some participants get stressed out at the thought of homework because it brings up negative associations with school. Our facilitators understand that, and often even relate to it! In DBT Skills group we give you a framework of what questions to answer about your homework practice. The questions are short, and easy to answer. It's also helpful to remember that everyone else participating in the group was new once, and most of them will have been nervous too. The purpose of homework review is to give you an opportunity to share your skills use and also to provide motivation to practice during the week.
Break
About halfway through the 2 hour class we take a 10 minute break.
Learning a new skill(s)
The last portion of the class is dedication to learning new skill(s). The skills in DBT are broken down into the following 3 modules:
- Distress Tolerance
- Emotion Regulation
- Interpersonal Effectiveness
The very last task of the DBT Skills group is to assign Skills Practice for the upcoming week. To help you record your homework, we will often assign one or two short worksheets. These worksheets will remind you of what you did to practice the skills during the week and what you would like to share during Homework review. The worksheets are for your use and aren't shared with class facilitators or other members of the class. We end our classes by inviting everyone to unmute and say goodbye or wave enthusiastically!