What happens at intake for a group (DBT)?

T yesterday suggested that I call a couple local Ts to get more info on their DBT groups. I'm going back and forth. But mostly, I'm finding myself stressed at having to talk to another T (ugh, *another* *T*).

I can handle the phone call, but they all seem to require an "intake" session to get into the DBT groups.

This is freaking me out. What happens at these intakes? Everything I've read (mostly here ) about DBT groups indicates that they're not "process" oriented, so people shouldn't be talking about their emotional issues, that should be done with their individual Ts... it should be very classroom-like, and oriented towards learning the skills.

So, why the intake?

I'm having two reactions:

1. Freaking out. I'm very private. I don't want to share anything with a new T. I don't know this person, and if I won't be talking about my emotional stuff with them, I see no reason they need to know things like whether I'm SI-ing, or what my trauma history is. Just NO. No, no, no. I really hate this.

2. It feels like a way for them to make more money off me . It feels like this (the intake, not the group) is not in any way meant to benefit me. It's just a way for them to get what they need, but for DBT skills class, I question whether it's needed?

Ugh. Can anyone chime in on what happens during these intake sessions for a group? What are they going to ask, and what are they likely looking for? The T that I'm looking at actually looks ok, the group fee is reasonable, and she has an office close to my house. Plus, her website is well-organized and informative. So, I'm positively inclined... I just... am so not comfortable with this part of it

Thanks!

Dbt is aimed at addressing the skills you need to help cope with overwhelming emotions. It also is supposed to help move away from si as a coping skill. I know the interview sounds (and can be) intimidating, it's to help the t get to know you a bit better. They would want to know about the si because dbt would directly address it. While you are not processing things that come up, you do process events and scenerios to a degree. It's interactive. They do expect you to talk about how you handle things and your thought processes.
I've had different types of interviews for different dbt groups, so your best bet would be to call the t and ask what's involved. Even though it's a skill based intervention, they tailor it to your particular issues so you can get the most personal benefit.
In the groups I attended, we were expected to give an overview of our struggles, but not expected to go into detail. I would talk about having am abuse history, and struggling with self harm, but wouldn't be expected to divulge details to the group...
I'm sure this doesn't really help. Sorry... hope someone else chimes in. (Keep in mind I also am very triggered by dbt because of how it reminds me of my childhood. I'm definitely biased against it for myself, though it has value as an intervention).

My intake was required in order to be a client of the county clinic. I also have to see their Pdoc while there. I doubt yours will be the same if you're going through a private T.

My intake covered everything. Basic info (name, address, phone, etc.), emergency contacts, current meds, past meds, diagnoses, family medical history, my other doctors' contact info, synptoms, etc. It took us over an hour and she didn't even fill half the paperwork out because I had already printed it all up! But the T was nice and didn't make me go into any details that I wasn't comfortable with. She just wanted to know the general things.

I hope someone can give you their experience through a private T's DBT group.

My suggestion is to write everything up (like the contact info, meds if you take any, etc.) so you don't get stressed trying to come up with those non-emotional type answers.

If you don't mind forms, maybe she has a form for you to fill out to also take some of the stress off of you?

Thanks ThisWayOut and ScarletPimpernel!!!

Ohmygosh. I'm stressed about this. I've called her, she called me back briefly to make sure that I had her website, and to let me know she'd call back after her next session... so that should literally be any minute now.

Per her website, the intake session is definitely required... I'm going to ask what exactly it entails on the call. I really don't think I can discuss SI with someone new, it's taken me months to tell my T... and I don't really discuss it well (I shut down and get pretty foggy/untalkative). I'm just not comfortable with that... with someone I don't know. I just want her to teach the class, and let me go and do my homework and studying and let me figure it out

Anyway... hopefully she calls soon so I can get this over with and get back to work. So not getting anything done today

***thanks!!!***

OK - well I talked to her on the phone, and that was much less awful than I expected!

I didn't make a final decision yet, because I want to talk to my T (on Monday) about it. But, she seemed nice enough and answered all my questions.

Basically, she said for intake that it's for her to get to know me, so that she's not putting me in a group without knowing anything about me, and for me to get to know her and ask questions. She also said she uses it to tailor the group content a little. She said sometimes it's to determine if someone can benefit from the group, but for DBT - if you're therapist is recommending it, then it's 95% certain you'll benefit.

I didn't ask specifically if she was going to grill me over symptoms or history though!

And, I asked whether self-disclosure was required in the group, and she said "no" (and it says on the website that you don't have to talk if you're not comfortable).

The only thing that really worries me is that you have to sign a release at the intake for her to talk with your therapist. This makes me really strangely uncomfortable. I guess if she's giving my T info - and it's just one way - I can live with that (my T should probably have as much info as possible to help me). But I don't want him sharing info about me. That feels really icky to me, and like it's going to screw up my ability to feel safe and share with him .

So, I guess I know what I need to talk to him about next week.

Thanks for the advice, and for listening, and letting me work this all out here! Ahhh I feel like I really want to duck out and grab chocolate now! (I'm trying to be good, but that was really hard and stressful for me!!!)

Thanks!!!!

I'd be surprised if she "grilled" you so to speak. I was just reflecting on my first session with the T who is now my T He went over the DBT book with me and talked about what DBT looked like. I was there for suicidal ideation and so I was open about that but he was really even-keeled and helpful.

I didn't talk about self-harm until much later when I felt more comfortable with him. It's a "target behavior" and DBT is useful for that.

Thanks NoWhereUSA - that's very reassuring to hear!