Fostering Emotional Well-Being: The Outcomes of Layla’s DBT SKills Group

If you’ve ever explored therapy options, you’ve likely come across the term DBT, which stands for Dialectical Behavioural Therapy. Understanding what DBT is and what it means to engage in this specific type of therapy is essential to making an informed decision on the type of care you participate in. At Layla, we’ve previously shared blog posts diving into topics like “What is DBT, and Does it Work?” and “Group Therapy: Leveraging Peer Support in DBT Skills Training.” However, this post highlights why our DBT skills group is so important to Layla’s mission of helping individuals to take control of their mental health. 

Before we dive into the outcomes of our DBT program, let’s do a quick recap of what DBT entails and what it’s like to participate in a DBT skills group.

What is DBT?

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a type of evidence-based therapy that incorporates mindfulness and acceptance-based strategies. DBT aims to help people manage emotional distress, improve their relationships, and lead more balanced, fulfilling lives.

At the core of DBT are four primary skill sets: Mindfulness, Emotion Regulation, Distress Tolerance, and Interpersonal Effectiveness. 

DBT can be done in individual therapy sessions, but at Layla, we offer DBT skills training in a group setting to provide participants with a structured space to learn and practice these skills.

Why DBT Skills Groups?

In 2020, we began exploring DBT Skills Groups because of increased interest and the need for better access to this form of support. Though DBT Skills Groups are available across Canada, several barriers prevent people from accessing them:

• Long wait times
• Requirement of a physician referral
• Living in isolated or rural areas
• Time constraints
• High costs

In alignment with Layla’s values, we developed a program that could address some of these challenges and make DBT skills more accessible.

Finding the Right Structure: Why Layla Offers a Virtual 12-Week DBT Skills Groups

Traditionally, DBT Skills Groups are structured over 24 weeks. At Layla, we offer a 12-week group program to create a more accessible and manageable option. Despite being shorter, participants still cover all the essential DBT skills.

The main difference between the 12-week and 24-week options is that the longer program allows for deeper exploration of each core skill and more time for group reflection. However, there are several benefits to our shorter 12-week format:

1. Participant Readiness: For some individuals, a 12-week commitment may feel more manageable and less overwhelming than a 24-week one. This can help in maintaining motivation and reducing dropout rates.
2. Cost: Financial restraints have acted as a barrier for some of those interested in attending DBT Skills Group. By shortening the group to 12 weeks, clients are able to learn DBT Skills in a way that is more cost effective. This reduced cost may also be covered more easily by insurance (where budgets often range from $500-$2000).
3. Time constraints Offering a 12-week group might be more feasible in terms of scheduling. Committing to 24 weeks (i.e., approximately 6 months of sessions) may not be realistic for those interested in learning DBT
4. Resource Allocation: Offering a 12-week group allows for more frequent group offerings, potentially reaching more individuals over time. This can help cut down on wait time to join a DBT group and provides more flexibility on start date. 

To increase accessibility, our 12-week DBT Skills group is offered virtually, allowing participants to join from home. This eliminates travel and is especially helpful for those in remote areas or with limited local therapy options. Because of this flexibility, we have been able to offer our DBT Skills Groups in Ontario, Alberta, Nova Scotia, and British Columbia by leveraging clinician provincial cross-registration.

Does It Work? Outcomes of Layla’s DBT Skills Groups

To get a better sense of how the program is making a difference, we ask clients to complete two simple questionnaires: the PHQ-9, which looks at depression symptoms, and the GAD-7, which focuses on anxiety. Clients fill these out at the start and end of the program, giving us a clear picture of any changes in how they’re feeling over the 12 weeks.

After running several groups, we’ve gathered some encouraging results. Here’s what we’ve learned so far:

PHQ-9 and GAD-7 Scores: Participants typically report reductions in both depression and anxiety symptoms after completing the program. This indicates that the skills learned in DBT are helping individuals manage their emotional distress more effectively.

• 81% reported an improvement in their PHQ-9 scores
• 78% reported an improvement in their GAD-7 scores
• 63% reported improvement to both PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores
• 3% reported a decline in both PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores

How Our Clients Are Rating the Program

To help us understand how well the program is working, we ask clients to share their feedback by rating different parts of their experience. Here are some of the key areas we focus on:

• Relevance of Skills: On average, clients rated the relevance of the skills they learned in the group at 4.7/5 
• Recommendation Likelihood: When asked how likely they would be to recommend Layla’s DBT program to someone else, clients gave an average rating of 9.58 / 10
• Facilitator Knowledge: Our facilitators are highly experienced in DBT, and clients consistently rated their knowledge with an average score of 5 / 5
• Facilitator Skill: In addition to their knowledge, the facilitators’ ability to guide the group and teach the material was rated at 5 / 5 

Client Feedback: What Participants Are Saying

Our clients’ experiences are at the heart of what makes our DBT Skills Groups so impactful. Here is some of the feedback from participants who have completed the program:

• “I found all the skills presented to be very helpful in understanding myself and why I have behaved in certain ways. As a result of this group, I have become far more aware of myself and of the impact my behaviour has, and can have, on others. Learning self compassion and mindfulness has also had a large impact on me. I really found that interacting with the group made me feel less alone and supported.”

• “I found that I learned a lot of very helpful skills, I learned a lot about myself and feel very optimistic about my future ability to incorporate the skills learned into my daily life.”

• “Eternally grateful to have taken this course. My life is forever transformed.”
  
  
• “I felt very comfortable and welcomed in the group. It was such a supportive environment to share my experiences and difficult emotions.”

• “I actually have skills that I will incorporate into my life everyday to manage psychological challenges”

• “I feel better prepared to manage my emotions. Challenges will arise, and I won't always get it right, but now I have the tools to start building this path.”

Final Thoughts

At Layla, our approach to DBT focuses on accessibility, effectiveness, and evidence-based support. By offering a shorter 12-week format, we’ve been able to reduce barriers such as cost, time commitment, and wait times, while still delivering a high-quality therapeutic experience.

If you’re considering DBT or want to learn more about our group programs, don’t hesitate to reach out to us! 

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- Facing mental health challenges? Layla is here to help - Individuals, couples, and families use Layla for personalized, convenient therapy. Layla matches you to a suitable therapist and manages the therapy process in a warm, dependable manner, supporting you on your journey to better health. Learn more here

- New to therapy? Here's your beginner guide - Starting therapy can evoke feelings of vulnerability, but knowing what to expect can help. The journey is individualized, with no exact right or wrong way. During the first session, typically administrative matters are discussed, goals are set, and you and your therapist will get to know each other. Fit between you and your therapist is very important for your outcomes, and it's okay to switch if the fit isn't right. Therapy is adjusted to your timeline and constraints, and can range from weekly to monthly sessions. Reflecting on what you wish to accomplish can guide the process.