Quote:
Originally Posted by NowhereUSA
I'm personally a huge fan of DBT. It seems that to have the best experience with DBT, it works to find a reputable group that's run well. There are groups out there not run well. I was lucky in that there's a major clinic group in my city that is well known for it's DBT groups and in fact, my T was the facilitator of the group I was in the first go round (I did a refresher this last year).
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I am also a huge fan of DBT and agree 100% with NowhereUSA's advice. There are groups out there claiming to be DBT groups, when, in fact, they are not really DBT...or they're "kind of" DBT. You'll want to ask for your facilitator's credentials - who trained them, how much training did they receive, do they attend a consultation group, etc. You'll also want to consider the time commitment (how long do they take to go through the cycle - typically you go through twice), whether they require you have a DBT trained individual therapist, what the group demographics are (all female or male, coed, ages, diagnoses), whether it's an open group (allowing new people to come in as others graduate) or a closed group (everyone is on the same schedule and no new members are allowed in), etc.
ETA - I would not recommend working from a workbook alone (or with a non-DBT therapist) if you haven't done a skills group. There is a lot of information and it really is helpful to have it taught in a skills group along with the homework assignments. I do know of one person who is doing DBT with her therapist, but her therapist is DBT trained, so it appears to be working well for her.
And - a DBT skills group is not a "therapy" group - it's more of a class group. The agenda typically involves a mindfulness exercise, review of homework and then the teaching of the new skill. Any issues that arise in group are supposed to be taken to your individual session and not resolved in the group (unless it's an issue about the group).