Eligibility, Clinical Expectations, & Group Guidelines Acknowledgment

A Life In Balance DBT Skills Training Group

1. Clinical Eligibility & Readiness

All participants must:

• Demonstrate emotional stability sufficient for group skills training. This means you can remain present during sessions, tolerate discomfort without escalating, and use basic coping strategies when emotions rise.

• Be appropriate for an outpatient, skills-based setting. This group is not designed for acute crisis stabilization or higher levels of care (e.g., inpatient, residential, PHP/IOP). If at any point a higher level of support is clinically indicated, we will discuss recommendations and appropriate referrals.

2. Eligibility Requirement: Ongoing Individual Therapy

Enrollment in DBT Skills Training requires concurrent individual therapy throughout your participation.

All participants must:

• Be actively engaged in individual therapy during the program. DBT skills group is designed to be an adjunct—not a replacement—for individual therapy. Group provides structure, accountability, and step-by-step skill development; individual therapy provides individualized support, deeper processing, and continuity of care.

• Maintain continuity of care. You may change individual therapists during the program; however, you may not go four (4) consecutive weeks without an individual therapy session.

• Understand ongoing eligibility. If you discontinue individual therapy while enrolled, you are no longer eligible to remain in the skills training group.

• If you are not currently in therapy, referrals or coordination can be discussed to help you meet this requirement and ensure appropriate support while enrolled.

3. Participation & Engagement Expectations

All participants must:

• Commit to consistent attendance and active participation. Skills build through repetition and practice. Regular attendance supports your progress and helps maintain a stable, supportive group environment.

• Participate in a highly interactive, camera-on learning environment. Camera-on participation supports engagement, accountability, real-time coaching, and a connected group experience.

4. Substance Use & Session Safety

To maintain a safe and clinically appropriate environment:

Participants agree to:

• Not attend sessions under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances.

• Comply with safety procedures if impairment is suspected. If impairment is suspected, you may be asked to leave the session and will be required to follow up individually regarding safety and ongoing participation expectations.

5. Confidentiality & Privacy

Confidentiality is essential to creating a safe group environment.

Participants agree that:

• All content shared in group—including identities and names of participants—must remain confidential.

• You will not share group information outside of sessions, including “processing” group content with others, retelling stories, discussing who is in group, or sharing details that could identify participants.

• You will take reasonable steps to protect privacy on your end (e.g., joining from a private space, using headphones when needed).

6. Boundaries & Outside Relationships Policy

To protect the integrity of the therapeutic environment:

Participants agree that:

• Participants may not form private relationships outside of group—meaning any relationship, alliance, or ongoing contact that cannot be discussed openly in session.

• Romantic or sexual partners may not participate in the same skills training group.

• Participants are expected to avoid off-platform dynamics that interfere with treatment (e.g., side conversations that create secrecy, triangulation, or conflict).

7. Suicide-Related Boundaries & Appropriate Peer Contact

This group is not crisis care, and group members are not responsible for managing one another’s safety.

Participants agree that:

• You will not discuss past or recent suicidal or para-suicidal behaviors with other participants outside of sessions.

• If you contact a group member while feeling suicidal, you must be willing to accept appropriate help (e.g., contacting your individual therapist, calling/texting 988, or contacting local emergency services).

• It is not acceptable to contact someone to report imminent self-harm intent while refusing assistance.

• Group members are not responsible for managing another participant’s safety. Appropriate support should be directed to professional resources.

8. Group Culture and Communication Norms

Participants agree to:

• Maintain mutual respect at all times. Disagreement is allowed; disrespect is not.

• Speak from your own experience using “I” statements and take responsibility for your feelings, choices, and participation.

• Avoid caretaking, rescuing, or taking responsibility for other participants.

• Avoid cross-talking or interrupting; allow the person with the floor to complete their thought.

• Practice active listening (listen to understand, not to rebut).

9. Understanding the Scope of the Program

Participants acknowledge:

• This is a DBT Skills Training Group, not comprehensive DBT.

• The program focuses on learning and practicing DBT skills in a structured group format and does not automatically include comprehensive DBT components such as:

  
  

  • Individual DBT therapy

  • Between-session phone coaching

  • A full DBT treatment/consultation team

  
  

• Optional add-on services may be available for purchase, including individual therapy and phone coaching, depending on clinical appropriateness and clinician availability.

Acknowledgement:

By signing below, I acknowledge that I have read, understand, and agree to follow the Eligibility, Clinical Expectations, and Group Guidelines listed above. I understand these expectations are in place to support safety, confidentiality, and the effectiveness of the group.