The DBT approach provides a clear framework for treating Borderline Personality Disorders (BPD) that takes into account the clients’ needs for validation, self-coping skills and distinct relationship boundaries within the treatment process. DBT is built around the concept of dialectics which involve trying to create a balance between two opposing ideas.
Compassionate, understanding and a centred approach is used to bring balance to people’s chaotic and conflicting behaviour.
Groups are conducted regularly; and the following may be suitable for Borderline Personality Disorder and other Behavioural conditions:
CREATIVE ARTS THERAPY: This is a useful medium to support the DBT learning process. Creative Arts provides an opportunity for expression, a healthy way to reduce stress and allows an alternate way of communicating emotions and thought processes. It can be a useful distraction tool to deal with emotional stress.
DIALECTICAL BEHAVIOUR THERAPY (CLOSED ANNUAL GROUP): This group requires a high level of commitment and continuous attendance for a minimum of 12 months. There is a referral and assessment process involved for entry to the group and attendance to the Pre-DBT is a pre-requisite. The group focuses on core principles of DBT including: Core Mindfulness, Emotional Regulation, Distress Tolerance and Interpersonal Effectiveness.
DISTRESS TOLERANCE: The focus of this group is to develop and increase personal strengths and the capacity to navigate through difficult situations. Exploration of skills that can be use in management of distressing situations and crisis using DBT based skills.
INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS: This is a supportive, skills based group for people with a mental health condition who have difficulties with assertion or socialising in different areas of their life. The aim is to become more aware of communication styles, understand the barriers that hinder effective communication and how to overcome them.
MANAGING DISTRESS: to build personal capacity and resilience in order to manage distressing situations and emotions in a skilful manner. The group provides the foundation for building and strengthening a fulfilling life.
MINDFULNESS APPROACH TO ART THERAPY: Guided to the basic principles of Mindfulness, this is an art therapy group centred on living life in the way that you value most. By using art making materials in supportive group setting, members are encouraged to experience self-reflection and self-understanding.
MINDFULNESS FOR EMOTIONAL WELLBEING: Improve your understanding of emotions and unhelpful thinking styles through mindfulness practice. Skills, strategies and mindfulness practice will be offered to assist individuals to gain experience and understanding of their emotions, increase self-compassion, develop helpful techniques and identify unhelpful thinking styles to minimise them.
MINDFULNESS SKILLS: Mindfulness itself is a state of open and active attention on the present. The aim of this group is to explore and instil many of the basic tenets of the mindfulness therapeutic approach.
SELF-CARE, SELF-SOOTHE: This group assists to build personal capacity and resilience to skilfully manage distressing situations and emotions. The aim is to aid in building up and strengthening a life worth living.
UNDERSTANDING EMOTIONS: The focus of this group is to understand what an emotion is, learning to identify different states of mind and to utilise core skills, including mindfulness to regulate emotions. This includes increasing awareness of when and how to use distress tolerance skills.