DBT Skills Group FAQs

No, you may not attend DBT Eastside group until you have had your intake appointment with our Intake Coordinator and at least one session with your individual therapist.

Based on client needs and availability, our Intake Coordinator will identify a group for you to attend. It is expected that you attend this group weekly. Should you experience a change in schedule, you can contact our offices to request new group assignment, subject to availability.

If you need to miss your regular group, you may attend an alternate group held the same week as your missed group, provided there is space available. Please check in with your regular Group Leader about makeup groups.

For those in our RO-DBT, if you are unable to attend group for that week, please contact your Group Leader to discuss what content you will be missing. No make-ups are available for this group type.

Guidelines for skills groups include that no “confidential” relationships are formed between group members where problem behaviors could be encouraged in one another. If friendships or romantic relationships are formed, we ask for transparency and may potentially ask for one of the members to attend an alternate group. DBT Eastside does not accept responsibility for interactions outside of your DBT Eastside group or outside the DBT Eastside offices.

In those cases, DBT Eastside will take action as needed, which may include disclosure to an inside or outside therapist, family member and / or other professionals, as required by law. DBT Eastside therapists are mandated reporters.

Our skills groups are not used for processing high-risk or potentially triggering behaviors. Group rules at DBT Eastside state that behaviors such as self-harm, substance use / abuse, suicidal ideation / gestures, and sexual activity are not discussed outwardly in group and instead saved for the time spent in individual sessions.

This rarely happens; however, if a client is disruptive or not appropriate for a DBT Eastside group, they may be given “a vacation” for a period of time or discharged from group attendance. In most cases this would happen after prior opportunities were given for behaviors to be modified. Clients are not charged for 4 “missed” groups in that instance.

Yes. When groups are held in-person, DBT Eastside follows the Bellevue School District snow-day schedule. If schools are cancelled within the Bellevue School District, DBT Eastside’s groups for that day are also cancelled. Should Bellevue School District have late start, DBT Eastside’s groups will take place as usual.

For standard DBT, the DBT Skills Training Handouts & Worksheets book we use is available on Amazon and it is recommended that you purchase it prior to starting group. The RO-DBT Handouts & Worksheets book will be emailed to you as a PDF after your intake.

If your child is 18 or over AND not living with you, you will not be required to sign a contract to attend the DBT Parent / Affected Others groups; however, we strongly suggest that you consider it.

Through our Parent/Affected Others skills groups you will have the opportunity to learn DBT skills and ask questions specific to your family’s needs – along with the support of other families going through the same thing. In addition, Parents / Affected Others may reach out to their group leaders, who can refer them to a DBT Eastside therapist for 1:1 coaching.