Slaight Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Program

Program Goals

The Slaight Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Program is a voluntary treatment program featuring a team of clinicians from Strides Toronto and the Scarborough Health Network (SHN) Child and Adolescent Outpatient Mental Health Clinic. This is a 25-week therapy program provided to Scarborough youth with complex mental health conditions between the ages of 14 and 24 years.

DBT is an evidence-based, structured psychotherapy program for individuals who have difficulties managing their emotions, thoughts, and behaviours that can lead to depression, anxiety, and/or suicidal behaviours. The Slaight DBT Program aims to reduce maladaptive behaviours, current 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

Our Team

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
• Explain your treatment plan
• 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.

Length of Treatment

This is a 25-week program.

What we Offer

The DBT program is offered both at Strides Toronto and SHN. It has two streams of service:

DBT Comprehensive Treatment

• Weekly 1.5-hour skills group for 25 weeks
• Weekly DBT individual therapy sessions 
• Phone coaching   
• Family involvement/education 

DBT Skills Training Group

• Weekly 1.5-hour skills group for 25 weeks 
• Skills coaching/skills practice support 

Based on your needs and our team’s assessment, you will be placed in the appropriate stream or redirected to other services.

Psychiatry

Program clients will be referred to Psychiatry for consultation as needed and collaborative care will occur if needed with current treating Practitioner/Psychiatrist.

This is not crisis/emergency service. If you or your client is in crisis, please contact 911 or visit your nearest emergency room.

After a referral is submitted, you will be contacted for a telephone intake to determine your eligibility for this program. If you are eligible, you will be placed on a waitlist until a spot becomes available. Please be aware that wait times can exceed 6 months.

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.

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
• McLeans 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

Defining Success

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.

Family physician referral is required. Please visit your family doctor to discuss a referral to the Slaight DBT Program.

Contact Us

Shoniker Clinic
2877A Ellesmere Rd.
416-281-7301)

Strides Toronto
416-438-3697

Resources

Crisis Contacts

Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868  
Kids Help Phone (text): 686868
www.kidshelpphone.ca   

Strides Toronto What’s Up Walk-in: 416-438-3697
www.whatsupwalkin.ca

One Stop Talk: 1-855-416-8255
www.onestoptalk.ca

Suicide Crisis Helpline: 988