Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (4 x 6 sessions), 18 years plus.

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) is a therapeutic approach designed to help people who are struggling with intense painful emotions, volatile moods, impulsive behaviour and difficulty maintaining healthy relationships. The therapeutic groups run weekly for 6 -12 months and help people to learn practical, effective skills in order to gain control over volatile moods and harmful behaviour to self, and/or others. The goal is to help individuals to learn to manage emotions, build relationships with others, cope better with problems or distress and create a life worth living.

The sessions are divided into 4 sections: Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotional Regulation, and Distress Tolerance. The groups are most effective when completed in their entirety, although it is possible to sign up for one group at a time.

Part 1: Mindfulness is the practice of being in the present and acknowledging thoughts, feelings and behaviours as they happen, without trying to control them.

Part 2: Interpersonal Effectiveness is about learning the skills to establish and maintain healthy relationships. It is about how to say ‘no’, how to ask for what you need, and how to set up healthy boundaries.

Part 3: Emotional Regulation is about keeping your emotions in the ‘safe zone’ – avoiding the downward spiral toward depression, or the upward spiral toward mania, or anger. It is one of the most original and inspirational aspects of  DBT, and very much recommended.

Part 4: Distress Tolerance is about learning the skills you need to be able to tolerate the distress that is part of any mental health diagnosis. Tolerating and reducing the distress will help you to avoid acting out  to hurt others, or acting out to hurt yourself, when distressed. Acting out when distressed frequently results in people hurting themselves or others, making distress tolerance a critical aspect of any DBT group.

Bolton

These groups will be run by Trish McLean, the owner and clinical director at The Story Isn’t Over. The groups will meet in person at the Bolton office on Thursday from 5-6.30 pm. There is a maximum of 6 people in each in person group.

The sessions can be bought by section, each section includes 6 x 1 ½ hour sessions, and costs $495. Costs are covered by extended health insurance providers, and/or as a health expense on your tax return.

Brampton

The groups will meet in person at the Brampton office on Tuesdays from 6.30-8 pm. There is a maximum of 6 people in each in person group.

The sessions can be bought by section, each section includes 6 x 1 ½ hour sessions, and costs $495. Costs are covered by extended health insurance providers, and/or as a health expense on your tax return.

The groups will meet online on Thursday evenings from 6-7.30pm, there is a maximum of 12 in the online.

Online

These groups will be run by Trish McLean. The groups will meet online on Thursday mornings from 10-11.30am, there is a maximum of 8 in the online group. They can be booked by going to Trish McLean’s Bolton schedule, or by calling (416) 616-2207.
 
The sessions can be bought by section, each section includes 6 x 1 ½ hour sessions, and costs $495. Costs are covered by extended health insurance providers, and/or as a health expense on your tax return.