Phone Coaching at DBT Eastside:

DBT Eastside offers 24-hour Phone Coaching to clients active in our Gold Standard DBT Program.

  • The function of phone coaching is for skills generalization across contexts, the limits of which are individually negotiated between the individual DBT Eastside therapist and client. Phone coaching is for in-the-moment coaching on how to utilize skills, gain support to regulate, and problem solve to help sustain long-term therapy goals. It may be via phone or text, depending on the therapist and client.

  • Phone coaching is not emergency intervention. If a client is in a life-threatening crisis, they should call 911. If a client is experiencing suicidal ideation or self-harming urges, they are asked to try DBT skills they know before calling on their therapist for coaching. If clients are unable to reach their therapist and harm is imminent, they are asked to call the King County Crisis Line 1-866-427-4747 or 911. Phone coaching is for individual clients, not their parents or families unless the client is under 13.

In accordance with the Gold Standard DBT Rule, if self-harm occurs before the client reaches out to their individual therapist for coaching, access to coaching will be suspended for 24 hours.