DBT Skills Group at Wise-Mind DBT Brisbane: What to Expect from the 13-Week Program Starting August 23rd

How the Program Works

Over the course of 13 weeks, participants will engage in weekly 2-hour group sessions covering the four key DBT modules:

Weeks 1–3: Mindfulness

• Introduction to DBT and the rationale behind mindfulness

• Learning to observe, describe, and participate without judgment

• Developing present-moment awareness and reducing automatic reactivity

Weeks 4–7: Emotion Regulation

• Understanding the function of emotions and identifying emotional patterns

• Learning how to decrease vulnerability to negative emotions

• Applying strategies like opposite action and problem solving

Weeks 8–10: Distress Tolerance

• Developing practical crisis survival skills for managing emotional pain

• Introducing techniques such as TIPP (Temperature, Intense Exercise, Paced Breathing, Paired Muscle Relaxation)

• Cultivating radical acceptance for situations that cannot be changed

Weeks 11–13: Interpersonal Effectiveness

• Learning how to ask for needs, say no, and navigate difficult conversations

• Practising assertiveness while maintaining self-respect and relationships

• Building skills for boundary-setting and conflict resolution

Each session includes:

A mindfulness practice

Review of the previous week’s homework

Teaching and discussion of new skills

In-session exercises to promote skill acquisition

Why 13 Weeks? Evidence for Short-Term DBT

You might be wondering: Is 13 weeks long enough to make a difference? The research says yes.

A randomised controlled trial by Soler et al. (2009) compared DBT skills training (DBT-ST) delivered over 13 weeks with standard group therapy for individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD). The study found that DBT-ST was significantly more effective in improving mood symptoms (such as depression, anxiety, and anger), emotional instability, and general psychiatric distress. Importantly, dropout rates were also much lower in the DBT-ST group—just 34.5% compared to 63.4% in the standard therapy group.

This suggests that even a short-term DBT program can be both engaging and clinically impactful, particularly when it focuses on core skills training with an experienced facilitator team.

“Three-months weekly DBT-ST proved useful. This therapy was associated with greater clinical improvements and lower dropout rates than standard group therapy… and provides the additional advantage that it is cost-effective” (Soler et al., 2009, p. 354).

Additional Features of the Program

Homework : Between-session practice is essential. Each participant receives tailored homework to apply the skills in real-life scenarios.

Group Cohesion : The small group setting (6-8 participants) encourages safety, support, and shared learning.

Trauma-Informed Approach : We recognise the impact of complex trauma and work from a stance of compassion, validation, and non-judgement.

Accessibility : This 13-week program offers an evidence-based alternative for those unable to commit to a full year of DBT.

Is This Group Right for You?

This program is ideal for individuals who:

Struggle with emotional sensitivity, reactivity, or intense mood shifts

• Want to build better relationships and assert boundaries

• Are seeking skills to manage urges, distress, or impulsive behaviours

• May not require or cannot access year-long DBT but are seeking meaningful change

To express interest or register for the August 23rd group, please get in touch via admin@wise-mind.com.au or phone us on 07 2114 7153 directly. We’d love to support you in building a life worth living—one skill at a time.

References

Soler, J., Pascual, J. C., Tiana, T., Cebrià, A., Barrachina, J., Campins, M. J., Gich, I., Álvarez, E., & Pérez, V. (2009). Dialectical behaviour therapy skills training compared to standard group therapy in borderline personality disorder: A 3-month randomised controlled clinical trial. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 47(5), 353–358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2009.01.013