Is this family therapy?
No. DBT Skills Group is more like a class where various skills are taught.  The first half of group is for skills practice review. The second half of group is devoted to teaching, learning and practicing a new skill. Sharing of personal stories takes place in the context of skills learned and put into practice.

Do I have to have Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)?
No.  DBT was originally developed for people with BPD, but research suggests that it helps people whose problems seem to be rooted in their difficulties managing their emotions.   More importantly, I hold the belief that the skills taught in DBT are universally useful.

How does the group run?
Skills are divided into 4 modules and are structured somewhat like a college quarter system:

• 1 week of Introduction
• 1 week of Mindfulness, 4 weeks of Interpersonal Effectiveness
• 1 week of Mindfulness, 4 weeks of Emotion Regulation
• 1 week of Mindfulness, 4 weeks of Distress Tolerance
• 1 weeks of Mindfulness, 3 weeks of Middle Path skills

The first five minutes of each week is spent doing a mindfulness practice followed by homework review. During homework review, members have the chance to trouble-shoot homework practice or talk about their experience skills used the previous week. A short break is followed by teaching of a new skill, practice and the homework assignment for the next week.

How big is the group?
Multi-family group has room for 5 families plus two group leaders.

Can we continue in skills group beyond 20 weeks?
Some families want to continue coming either to fine-tune their understanding of particular skills, or to have the structure of class to help them practice. Members, who graduate from our skills training class, can continue their involvement and register for a module at a time, space permitting.

What is required for me to participate? Do I need to go to group AND see an individual therapist?
Yes – I require that the teen and/or family work with an individual therapist who can provide crisis support, although it’s not absolutely necessary to see a DBT therapist.

DBT Family Skills Group is very much like a class, and it’s simply not enough support for someone who has severe behavioral issues.

Group leaders can answer questions about homework and clarify skills, but cannot offer the crisis support.  I am happy to provide referrals.

Tuition includes:

• Orientation to DBT Multi-family skills group training
• Skills manuals for all attending family members
• Skills coaching by phone (not crisis support)

Under some circumstances I may make other payment arrangements - if there is some question here, please call me and I will do what I can to make it work.

How do I sign up and/or get more information?
I would like to hear from you! Please use the contact form, email me, or call me at 505-553-6381

Copyright 2010 Sylma Fine, M.A., MFT, ATR-BC | 505-553-6381 |
CA Lic # MFC41633, NM Lic. # 0133601



































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