LGBTQ+
DBT Group
What is the LGBTQ+ DBT Skills Group?
In the LGBTQ+ DBT skills group, our goal is for you to learn DBT skills in an environment in which your identity is validated and you can feel safe discussing issues related to sexuality and gender as they emerge. The group is modeled off of a traditional DBT group in which skills are taught in an educational format, much like a classroom setting, and it includes the four core “modules” of DBT skills: mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. These skills can help you better manage the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that cause problems in your life. As part of both our comprehensive DBT program as well as our LGBTQ+ mental health program, the LGBTQ+ DBT group at NYCBT goes beyond simply teaching the skills by providing a unique and supportive setting in which the material is tailored to the specific types of examples and challenges often experienced by people in the LGBTQ+ community.
How Our Group
Can Help
If you struggle with managing strong emotions, engage in impulsive or dangerous behaviors, or face challenges in interpersonal relationships such as conflict, avoidance, fears of abandonment, or intense ups and downs, DBT skills can help. Additionally, DBT is especially well-suited to many of the issues that members of the LGBTQ+ community face, as it emphasizes the impact that chronic, repeated invalidation of your internal experience can have on your emotions, your sense of self, and your ability to cope well.
In our LGBTQ+ DBT skills group you will have the opportunity to:
- Learn skills for coping effectively with the challenges you face
- Discuss how to manage emotions when dealing with the cultural, societal, or familial invalidations that are unique to your experience
- Talk about your relationships in a space in which you don’t need to justify or explain your sexual or gender identity to others
Joining the LGBTQ+ DBT Group
Anyone 18+ years old who identifies within the LGBTQ+ community and could benefit from DBT skills is welcome to join! The first step is to meet with one of our therapists for an initial appointment, which will allow us to recommend a treatment plan specific to your needs. This may include participating in the LGBTQ+ DBT group as part of a comprehensive DBT treatment plan. If you are already working with an individual therapist outside of NYCBT, however, in most circumstances you will be able to join our group while continuing with your individual therapist. We will work with you to determine the most effective plan for your goals.