Clinician of Client Registered for DBT Group

A mutual client has commenced or is looking to commence an Australian DBT Institute DBT Skills program and has mentioned that you are their individual therapist.

The Australian DBT Institute encourages individuals, enrolled in DBT Skills groups, to continue individual treatment with their current therapist ensuring continuity of care and support as an adjunct to DBT skills group. The therapeutic alliance you have with your individual client is essential to each participant’s success in a DBT skills group. Our executive director, Dr. Peter King, has included some details regarding the Australian DBT Institute’s skills group so you are aware of our overarching approach.

Information about the Australian DBT Institute’s DBT Programs

DBT framework through teaching skills in groups, assigning homework tasks to consolidate skills, balance acceptance/change based strategies and are not insight/processing based groups
Trauma-Informed with a greater focus on skill acquisition and less of a focus on prolonged exposure techniques
Encourage continuation of individual therapy to assist with the integration of new skills and address problematic behaviours including deliberate self-harm, suicidal urges, substance misuse, complex interpersonal interactions and other risk-taking behaviours
Recognise individual therapists as the primary therapist managing risk, treatment targets, early warning signs and crisis management
Giving individual clients the choice of learning skills online, in a group setting or in one on one sessions if groups are triggering and/or stress-inducing
Adoption of a flipped learning approach to teaching skills and resources outside the group through teaching videos. Group sessions then focus on skill mastery, consolidation and further application within each group session (online group only)
Externalizing the teaching of skills through observation of skills being or not being used in pop culture – sitcoms, movies, advertisements and YouTube videos
Referring any group interfering behaviours to individual therapists rather than addressing these behaviours in the group.

Recommended therapeutic interventions in individual therapy to complement the Australian DBT Institute’s DBT Programs

Completion of a crisis management plan (you can use our crisis management plan if you do not have access to a plan at http://essentiahealth.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Individual-Crisis-Management-Plan.docx)
Greater focus on resource strengthening and acquisition leaving trauma/stressful/pain memories and responses to be processed when an individual has a sufficient level of safety and stability
Embracing avoidance as a clinical resource for managing distress rather than riding “the wave” of the emotions or addressing types of avoidance (excluding avoidant behaviours which are considered to be deliberate self-harm, these behaviours are addressed immediately)
Adopting an adapted Phase-Based Approach that acknowledges the need for containment and de-esciliation before teaching resources and skills before processing and insight based work
Increased focus on control for clients including within individual therapeutic sessions
Increased focus on the autonomic nervous system and the response of the body to trauma and extremely stressful memories
Working within a regulation zone or the therapeutic window and not outside it

The Australian DBT Institute would like to provide you with access to our teaching modules so that the materials your individual client has access to are also known to you. If you would like access to these materials please complete the below form so we can provide you with access to our DBT Assist platform. There will be no charge for access to these materials as your client is an active participant in our programs. If you have multiple clients in our programs you will have access to multiple modules on DBT Assist.

Should you seek any clarification regarding your individual client’s participation in the Essentia Health/Australian DBT group, feel free to contact our team at your convenience via email at dbtassist@dbtinstitute.com.au or via phone at 07 5647 3438.

IF YOU ARE THE INDIVIDUAL THERAPIST FOR A CLIENT IN ONE OF OUR DBT GROUPS PLEASE COMPLETE THE BELOW FORM.

Clinician Name *

First

Last

Clinician Email *

We will use your email to register you on our DBT Assist platform

Clinician Phone Number *

Only used to contact you should a group facilitator need to contact you regarding your client’s participation in our DBT group

Name(s) of client(s) attending the Essentia Health/Australian DBT Institute DBT Group(s)

Crisis Management Plan

Click or drag files to this area to upload. You can upload up to 5 files.

Individual therapist remain the primary treatment provider in DBT as per the Evidence Base. Please provide a crisis management plan so that our group facilitators provide an approach that is both trauma informed and consistent with your treatment plan.

Comment, Message or Further Information

Acknowledgements *

I am aware my client is committing to attend all DBT Group Sessions. If due to unforeseen circumstances, they miss a session I will support them to complete the weekly learning tasks on DBT Assist for the session they missed.
I am aware that DBT is an evidence based treatment that requires attendees to attend individual therapy in addition to group.
I am aware that DBT group attendees will need to complete a number of foundation/commitment sessions that discuss DBT and how DBT groups are run before my client’s first DBT Group session.
I am aware that Essentia Health’s DBT group facilitators may be in contact with me to support my client’s use of DBT skills and their participation in group.
I am aware as my client’s Individual Therapist, I am considered the primary therapist throughout my client’s treatment. As individual therapist, I will work with my client to identify treatment goals and treatment targets as well as help my client with the use of DBT skills throughout their treatment.
I am aware, as an Individual Therapist, I will need to provide Essentia Health with an individual safety plan before I commence DBT groups.
I am aware that Essentia Health’s Privacy, Consent to Treatment and Cancellation policies are available online (www.essentiahealth.com.au) or via email admin@essentiahealth.com.au

Please tick ALL boxes above to acknoweldge the before mentioned statements with relation to your client’s attendance at Essentia Health/Australian DBT Institute’s DBT groups. Individuals who have not consented to treatment will be unable to join Essentia Health’s DBT group program.

Comment