DBT Phone Coaching

DBT Phone Coaching Guidelines Phone coaching is an essential part of the Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) programme. It is designed to provide in-the-moment support to help with effective use of DBT skills in daily life, particularly during moments of crisis. Purpose of Phone Coaching - The primary goal of phone coaching is to assist individuals in generalising learned DBT skills, such as distress tolerance and emotion regulation, into their daily routines and real-life situations, preventing skill decay. - Phone coaching is intended for brief, focused support during moments of struggle, offering immediate guidance on applying specific skills like "TIP skills" (Temperature, Intense exercise, Paced breathing) for acute distress or "STOP skill" (Stop, Take a step back, Observe, Proceed mindfully) for impulsive urges. - Positive feedback on successes, such as effectively using validation skills in a difficult conversation or employing mindfulness to prevent escalation, is encouraged to be shared during these calls. - Any negative feelings or ruptures arising from therapy sessions, such as feeling misunderstood or invalidated during group, can be addressed and worked through constructively during phone coaching to repair the therapeutic alliance. Duration and Contact - Typical phone coaching calls are brief, lasting approximately 5-10 minutes, and focus solely on immediate skill application rather than discussing therapy content or reviewing past sessions. - Acceptable methods of contact for phone coaching include direct phone calls or secure messaging via the clinic's approved app. - Phone coaching is included as part of the overall DBT programme fee, with no additional costs for scheduled calls. Availability - Individuals are encouraged to initiate contact for support with applying DBT skills whenever they encounter a challenging situation where they feel their learned skills could be beneficial, especially during moments of crisis or high emotional intensity. - If immediate contact with the therapist is not possible, individuals are expected to utilise their self-soothing skills, distress tolerance techniques, and pre-planned coping strategies to manage the situation independently until they can connect with support. - The therapist is unavailable for phone coaching calls after 8:00 PM GMT. Focus on Skills The aim of these calls will be to problem solve and to use DBT skills to do so.