The Brief Skills Training (BST) group is a group therapy treatment designed to increase an individual’s ability to navigate their emotions. The BST group is designed to teach skills that help with distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal communication. The group covers skills from the Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) program, but does not require an individual to be in other elements of DBT. 

 

Group details:

Format- This group meets once a week for 8 weeks (with an option to stay for additional modules). Groups are 60 minutes long and are virtual. 

 

Structure- Each group is run the same way. First, group starts with a Q&A on the skill covered the previous week. Then, we review a new skill from the DBT manual. Lastly, we suggest homework to be practiced over the next week, but this is not required.​

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Group Entry/Exit: Group members are asked to commit to 8 groups (which is one module of DBT skills), with an opportunity to continue for longer if desired. It is a “rolling” group, which means that new members may enter and exit at specific times in the content. New group members may enter at the beginning of a module (every 8 weeks) and the group temporarily closes while a module completes. 

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To see the differences between our BST and DBT groups, please see the below pdf.

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Who is Eligible:

In order to be eligible to enter the BST group, an individual must
   -Connected with a mental health provider with whom you have semi- regular check-ins. This provider will complete a referral form for you to enter the group. 
   -Have a desire to learn new skills for your emotions
 

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Who may not be a good fit:

We have found that some individuals benefit less from our group due to the severity of their current symptoms or timing of treatment. If you experience any of the following, this may not be the right time for you to enter our group (and you may be a better fit for a different TAP program):

    -If you are currently actively suicidal, self-harming, or engaged in violence towards others. You may be a better fit for our full DBT program.
   -If you have severe depression, anxiety, trauma, or substance use that is significantly impairing your ability to function in day-to-day life. You may be a better fit for treatments related to mood disturbance or anxiety. 

 

How to join the group:

Step 1- have your mental health provider complete a referral form. Our Admin team is happy to send this to you (groups@tapclinicnc.com). 

Step 2- after we receive a provider referral, our our Admin Team will set you up with a Patient Portal and send you paperwork

Step 3- complete a one-time 30 minute intake with a group leader, which will be scheduled once your paperwork is received in full. 

Step 4- If you, your current individual provider, and the BST group leaders agree that this group is a good fit for your current goals, you will be given a group start date and join at next opening.

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*sliding scale group spots are available on a first come, first served basis. You can email (groups@tapclinicnc.com) to determine whether sliding scale spots are currently available and what your sliding scale rate would be if you qualify.