LIVING SKILLFULLY: DBT Programme and Skills Classes in London

What is Dialectical Behaviour Therapy?

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is the most researched treatment for people living with Borderline Personality Disorder, also known as disorder of emotion regulation. It consists of weekly individual therapy and skills classes divided into four modules. DBT is a modification of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and it applies a range of cognitive-behavioural strategies and mindfulness skills to the problems experienced by people living with emotion dysregulation. This intensive twice weekly psychological treatment was designed to enhance people's skills in regulating their emotions and behaviour and was shown effective in reducing suicidal behaviour, non-suicidal self-injury as well as improving social and overall functioning. DBT is now used in a variety of psychological treatments including treatment for eating disorders and mood disorders. Recent research also suggests its effectiveness with sexual abuse survivors, post-traumatic stress disorder and substance dependency. DBT skills are of relevance to people who experience overwhelming emotions and want to learn more skillful ways of managing intense suffering, improve their functioning within relationships and build a life that they will experience as worth living. We give people a choice of committing to the full programme, which entails both individual therapy and DBT classes or just DBT classes with optional review during each module.

What will I learn?

There are 4 DBT skills modules which are based on the recently updated DBT Skills Training Manual by Marsha Linehan (2014) and can be attended on a modular basis or purchased as a package of four.

• Core mindfulness consists of 3-4 weekly sessions and is designed to teach you how to increase your awareness levels, focus better, train your attention, decrease reactivity and judgmentalness and be more accepting of current moment experiences.
• Distress tolerance module lasts for 7 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.
• Emotion regulation entails 9 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 7 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.

How will I learn?

New skills are presented each week and homework is assigned for participants to practice during the week. Homework is reviewed at the next class. People who commit to the full DBT programme (both individual therapy and skills groups) will have access to phone skills coaching, which can be accessed at times of heightened distress 7 days a week. This helps to generalise their newly acquired knowledge and accelerate the effective use of skills. The goal of DBT classes is for people to gain new skills, get better at the skills they have and be able to use the skills when they are really needed, such as during times of intense emotion, crisis or conflict.

Who should join the class?

DBT skills classes are a crucial part of the intensive twice weekly DBT programme. To be on the full DBT programme you need to have a simultaneous involvement in individual therapy with one of the Mind-Reframed team members. People who are on the full programme are given priority to join our Saturday morning class. Monday and Saturday PM classes are suitable for those who are only interested in learning some of the modules without committing to the whole DBT programme or people who attended DBT in the past and now want to refresh their knowledge of some of skills. Individuals interested in joining the programme will be assessed by a member of the Mind-Reframed team. Those who are only considering some modules without committing to individual DBT can provide a letter of recommendation from their psychiatrist or therapist outlining the history and reasons for referral.