DBT Program Information (Adult Program - 18+ years of age)

Searchlight Psychology’s Program for Emotion Regulation consists of 8 weekly 2 hr sessions of group skills training held on Friday’s from 10am to12pm. Numbers are limited to ten participants and our program is set to begin on Friday 14th July 2023 pending confirmation of numbers. Please contact our helpful administration team for information on how to enrol in the DBT-Skills Training (DBT-ST) program. Research has shown that short programs of DBT-ST can result in significant changes in outcomes for depression, anxiety and a range of other problems associated with difficulties in regulating emotions.

Group Skills – Our program consists of Skills Training only which is held once per week for two hours and is facilitated by a trained DBT therapist.

Individual Therapy – Participants can choose to engage in individual therapy on a weekly or fortnightly basis of 50 minutes. You and your individual therapist work collaboratively toward replacing unhelpful behaviours with skilful behaviours to develop a life worth living.

8 weeks Duration & 4 Modules

1. Mindfulness. (1 week) This is a core component of DBT and interwoven throughout the course of the program throughout each module. Individuals are taught present moment awareness and how to non-judgementally attend to reality through developing skills related to observing, describing and participating mindfully in their lives.
2. Interpersonal Effectiveness (1 week). This module teaches assertive communication strategies and individuals are taught how to effectively have their needs met in their relationships while identifying and maintaining healthy boundaries and self-respect.
3. Emotion Regulation (4 weeks). Participants learn emotional literacy and how to effectively regulate and cope with emotional sensitivity. This is achieved through learning how to understand emotions, change unwanted emotions, reduce vulnerability to emotional reactivity and manage extreme emotions.
4. Distress Tolerance (2 weeks). This module consists of crisis survival skills. Participants learn reality acceptance skills, finding meaning in crisis, and learn how to better tolerate stressful events and situations in their lives.

We accept referrals ongoing and pending expressions of interest we will be varying programs throughout the calendar year. We have written an article to provide more information on DBT. To refer yourself or someone you know please do not hesitate to contact us for further information.

Our DBT Program Fees

Our DBT program is a private therapeutic service and is subject to fees. Individual therapy sessions and Group Therapy sessions may be eligible for Medicare rebates with a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan. Fees for the group are required to be paid in full prior to starting skills training and are non-refundable. Payment plans, NDIS, Medicare and DVA rebates may also be available for eligible participants. Individual sessions are additional to the cost of the group and are paid as attended on a weekly basis. The Program requires a commitment to attend group skills once a week. The group is two hours in duration and is set to be held every Friday from 10am til 12pm. based on interest and participant numbers Searchlight Psychology hopes to run several different programs of varying length and content throughout the year.

• 8 Week Program: $1,200
• Weekly Individual Therapy: TBA On application

Entry To Searchlight’s DBT Program

Participants are expected to undertake an initial assessment and orientation session before entering the group component. This is designed to help prepare participants for the structure and expectations of the program. Initial individual sessions are to determine suitability and tailor an individualised treatment plan for each participant. We accept referrals from practitioners as well as self-referral and encourage interested participants and their support persons to contact us for further information regarding program requirements.