Comprehensive DBT vs
Skills Group-Only DBT
If you are considering a DBT program, it is important to understand the options available - the Comprehensive DBT or Skills Group-Only DBT courses. It is also important to distinguish between our own ‘DBT adherent’ program, and programs from other organisations that may offer shorter ‘DBT based’ or ‘DBT informed’ programs. Understanding the difference will help you choose the right one for your personal needs and circumstances.
Comprehensive DBT
Skills Group-Only
Targets pervasive emotion dysregulation, suicidal/self-harming behaviours, and multiple problem behaviours. Provides a coordinated, multi-modal treatment.
Purpose:
Teaches DBT coping skills in a classroom-like environment. Suitable for people who want to learn and practise skills but may not need the full treatment package.
Provides tailored support for crisis management, behaviour change, and generalisation of skills across daily life.
Level of Support:
Limited to skill learning and practice; less focus on applying skills in complex, real-life crises.
Clients wanting to build skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, or mindfulness, without intensive individual support.
Who it’s for:
Clients with high-risk behaviours (e.g. suicidality, self-harm), complex presentations (e.g. BPD, severe trauma), and those needing intensive support.
Skills group only, without the other modes of therapy or consultation.
Structure:
Full DBT program including:
Skills group
Individual therapy
Phone coaching
Therapist consultation team
Lower intensity: usually weekly skills group sessions only. Some skills groups may also offer homework support or individual therapy sessions as an add on however not a requirement of these groups.
Intensity:
High intensity and commitment: weekly individual therapy, weekly skills group sessions, phone coaching as needed, and clinician participation in a consultation team.
is the gold standard, designed for people with severe difficulties who need multi-modal, high-support intervention.
Comprehensive DBT:
is a useful, lower-intensity option that focuses solely on skills acquisition without the broader support and structure. Across organisations they vary in structure, some include components such as a therapist consultation team and offer one-on-one support through homework support or individual therapy, but not all programs offer this (*) – so, it’s important to consider what your needs are and whether a comprehensive or skills-only group would best meet your needs.