Practical, evidence-based skills for managing emotions, navigating relationships, and responding more effectively to life's challenges.

DBT Skills Groups at the DBT Institute of Central Illinois (DBTICI) are available for adolescents and adults who want structured training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills.

Some participants attend a skills group as part of Comprehensive DBT, while others participate in group alongside an outside individual therapist or as a focused way to strengthen specific coping and behavioral skills.

What Is a DBT Skills Group?

If the idea of joining a therapy group makes you nervous, you're not alone. You may worry about talking in front of strangers, hearing other people's problems, or feeling expected to share personal information before you're ready.

DBT skills group is very different from a traditional process therapy group. It functions much more like a class.

Each week, participants:

• Learn a new DBT skill

• Practice using the skill during group

• Apply the skill between sessions

• Discuss their experience using the skill without needing to share deeply personal details

The focus is on learning and practicing practical tools—not processing your personal history.

What Will I Learn?

DBT skills are organized into four primary areas:

Mindfulness helps you become more aware of your thoughts, emotions, and experiences so you can respond intentionally rather than automatically.

Distress Tolerance teaches strategies for getting through crises, intense emotions, and situations you cannot immediately change without making things worse.

Emotion Regulation helps you understand emotions, decrease emotional vulnerability, and respond more effectively when emotions are intense.

Interpersonal Effectiveness focuses on relationships—asking for what you need, setting boundaries, navigating conflict, maintaining relationships, and respecting yourself in the process.

Adolescent and family groups also include Middle Path, which teaches validation, behavior-change strategies, and ways for teens and caregivers to navigate differences and reduce conflict.

Why Learn DBT Skills in a Group?

Some people wonder whether they can simply learn DBT skills through books or individual therapy. For some people, that may be enough. For others, participating in a structured skills group makes a meaningful difference.

Skills group provides accountability, repeated practice, feedback, and opportunities to learn alongside other people working toward similar goals.

There is a difference between understanding a skill and being able to use it when you actually need it. Practicing skills like setting a boundary, asking for what you need, tolerating a difficult emotion, or responding differently during conflict can make it easier to use those same skills outside of therapy.

Do I Have to Be in Comprehensive DBT to Join?

No.

DBT skills group can be appropriate for individuals who are not participating in DBTICI's Comprehensive DBT Program. We welcome referrals from outside therapists who would like their clients to receive structured DBT skills training while continuing individual therapy with them.

We will work with you and, when appropriate, your individual therapist to determine whether skills group is a good fit.

At the same time, it is important to understand that skills group is one component of Comprehensive DBT—not a replacement for it.

Comprehensive DBT includes individual DBT therapy, weekly DBT skills group, between-session phone coaching, and a DBT consultation team for clinicians. For clients whose clinical needs indicate Comprehensive DBT, skills group alone may not provide the level of treatment and support they need.

If you are enrolled in our Comprehensive DBT Program, participation in a weekly DBT skills group is a required part of treatment.

What will Group be like??

We recognize that starting a group can feel intimidating, and we'll help you prepare before your first session. You will not be expected to tell your life story or disclose deeply personal information to participate.

Most clients find that their anxiety about attending group is greater than the experience itself. Many ultimately find that learning and practicing alongside others becomes one of the most valuable parts of their treatment.

Current DBT Skills Groups

Adult DBT Skills Group

Wednesdays or Thursdays | 5:15–6:45 PM Virtual

Tuesdays (low fee/no fee) | 5:15–6:45 PM Virtual

For adults interested in learning and practicing Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness skills.

Participants may attend as part of Comprehensive DBT or while continuing individual therapy with an outside provider.

Adolescent & Multi-Family DBT Skills Group

Tuesdays | 4:30–6:00 PM Virtual

For adolescents and a parent or caregiver. Teens and caregivers attend together and learn a shared set of skills for managing emotions, improving communication, reducing conflict, and responding more effectively to difficult situations.

The curriculum includes Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, Interpersonal Effectiveness, and Middle Path skills.

For Therapists & Referral Sources

You do not need to provide DBT yourself to refer a client for skills group.

We welcome referrals from therapists who would like to continue providing individual therapy while their client receives structured DBT skills training through DBTICI.

We can help determine whether skills group alone is an appropriate complement to the client's existing treatment or whether their clinical needs suggest that Comprehensive DBT should be considered.

Interested in Joining a Group?

Whether you're looking specifically for DBT skills training or aren't sure what level of DBT treatment you need, we'll help you determine the best starting point.