Slaight Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Program

The Slaight DBT Program is group therapy based and aims to reduce psychological distress,  and associated suicidal and self-harm behaviours. We work with clients to decrease frequency of ER visits, decrease admissions to inpatient services, increase coping skills, and improve quality of life.

This program will target factors that often contribute to these difficulties:

• The development of interpersonal, emotional and behavioural regulation and distress tolerance capabilities
• Address personal and environmental factors that may inhibit the development of these skills/abilities or reinforce dysregulated behaviours

We are an interdisciplinary team of Social Workers, Child Youth Counsellors, and Psychiatrists from Strides Toronto and the Scarborough Health Network Child and Adolescent Outpatient Mental Health Clinic. Our aim is to help clients establish their goals for treatment and to help them achieve those goals in a process that is comfortable to them and respectful of their experiences.

If you are a client with us, our team will:

• Ask questions in a way that honours your wisdom, knowledge, and experience
• Collaborate with you on developing your treatment plan and explain DBT treatment
• Provide care that is free of discrimination and judgment
• Work with you to overcome barriers that could impact your treatment

We will work together to provide personalized care founded in best-practice research that is oriented to your recovery.  At the core of our services is the belief that healing is possible. Your team member will spend time getting to better understand your concerns and goals for treatment.  As partners in your healing journey, we value your input and encourage you to ask questions and share any concerns.

Inclusion Criteria

• Scarborough resident between the ages of 14-24
• Ability to attend and participate in weekly program
• Ability to read and write in the English language
• McLean Screener score of 5 or more
• Issues or dysfunction in 2 or more areas: dysregulation in emotions, interpersonal relationships, identity, behaviour, and cognition.
• Recurrent experiences of self harming and suicidal behaviours

Exclusion Criteria

• Symptoms that will interfere with participation in the skills training group and with one’s ability to benefit from the program (e.g. severe anorexia, active psychosis, primary substance use disorder, antisocial behaviours)
• Severe developmental disability or cognitive impairment
• Court-mandated referrals

This is a 25-week therapy program.

Each client will establish their own individual goals for treatment. Success is defined by a decrease in harmful and unwanted behaviours and an increase in skillful behaviours. Success is impacted by the effort put forth by each client to actively engage in all components of their program and to implement the skills in their everyday life.