12-session emotional-rescue foundation

DBT for Emotional Relief

A focused online group that teaches immediate relief skills while building the foundation required for deeper DBT work. It is designed for people who need a clear sequence—not another vague invitation to “calm down.”

12 structured online sessions
Typically 90–110 minutes
Psychoeducation, activities, practice, and reflection
Required first step before the next level of STG DBT Skills Group training

Start with fit, safety, and the amount of support you need

Complete one secure intake. A clinician reviews risk, current supports, treatment history, goals, practical access, and funding before recommending the most proportionate next step. Completing intake does not commit you to treatment.

Clinician-reviewed intake
Clear service recommendation
No referral required
No obligation to continue

Quick read

The essentials before you decide

Length

12 sessions, generally delivered online in 90–110 minute meetings.

Primary goal

Build immediate emotional-rescue tools and a practical foundation for longer-term regulation.

Group culture

Structured learning without forced personal disclosure.

Next step

Participants may continue into the later DBT skills sequence when clinically appropriate.

Fit and safety

Choose the level of support that matches the pattern

This service may be right for you if…

Emotions seem to arrive from every direction and are difficult to slow down
You want practical relief from emotional storms without denying that the emotion is real
Reactivity, mood swings, shame, avoidance, or relationship fallout keep repeating
You can participate in a structured skills group and practise between meetings

A different pathway may be safer or more useful when…

Frequent life-threatening behaviour or severe instability requires a more intensive level of care
Acute mania, psychosis, intoxication, withdrawal, or medical instability requires appropriate medical support
You already have a strong DBT foundation and are ready for Refresher Plus or Next Steps

Clinical rationale

Insight often disappears at the exact moment it is needed

Many people understand their emotional pattern when calm. The difficulty is accessing a different response when the nervous system is activated. Emotional Relief builds a sequence of skills for naming the emotion, reducing vulnerability, surviving peaks, and improving the next moment.

Understand the emotion

Learn what emotions do, how they are triggered, and why judging them often adds a second layer of suffering.

Reduce immediate pain

Use concrete strategies to reduce avoidable emotional suffering and interrupt escalation.

Act more effectively

Practise distress tolerance, relationship skills, and small choices that reduce fallout after the peak.

Program structure

The 12-session learning sequence

The program follows a deliberate progression so participants build a usable emotional-response system rather than collecting disconnected tips.

Sessions 1–3 — Understanding emotions

Recognize emotional functions, name experiences more accurately, and increase awareness without immediate judgment.

Sessions 4–6 — Reducing emotional pain

Work with vulnerability factors, thinking patterns, behaviour, and skills that reduce preventable suffering.

Sessions 7–8 — Tolerating distress

Learn how to survive peaks and urges without making the situation worse.

Sessions 9–10 — Improving the moment

Use acceptance, meaning, attention, self-soothing, and practical strategies when the problem cannot be solved immediately.

Session 11 — Relationships

Apply validation, asking, limits, and effective communication to common relationship pressure points.

Session 12 — Future plan

Review the personal skill system, identify ongoing practice, and clarify whether the next level of DBT is indicated.

Between-session and practical support

Pricing and access

The current public fee structure is income-based and is billed in blocks of four sessions. Participants also receive access to the STG learning platform for program materials and practice.

Per-session range

$35–$95 per session depending on income and benefit arrangements.

Four-session billing

Sessions are billed in blocks of four to support program continuity.

Pay-in-full range

$420–$1,140 for the 12-session program, depending on the applicable rate.

Fees and access

Know the practical details before treatment begins

Confirm the current group rate and payment schedule during intake. Private plans and public benefits may exclude skills-training or group formats, even when individual psychotherapy is eligible.

How care begins

A clear pathway—without guessing where to start

You do not need to know the diagnosis, program, or clinician before reaching out.

01 — Secure intake

Tell us what is happening, what you want to change, and any safety, scheduling, or funding needs.

02 — Clinical fit review

A clinician reviews the pattern, risk level, goals, diagnosis questions, and amount of structure needed.

03 — Clear recommendation

You receive a proportionate recommendation: individual DBT, a group, guided support, coordinated care, or another pathway.

04 — Begin with a plan

Care starts with explicit targets, skills practice, progress review, and a plan for support between sessions.

Common questions

What people usually want to know before starting

Do I have to share personal details in group?

No. You are invited to practise and participate, but you are never forced to disclose information you do not want to share.

Is this a support group?

No. It is a structured DBT skills group with a defined curriculum, activities, practice, and reflection.

How long are the sessions?

Sessions are generally 90–110 minutes, allowing time for teaching, exercises, practice, and questions.

Does this replace individual therapy?

Not necessarily. Intake determines whether group alone is sufficient or whether individual or comprehensive treatment is needed.

What comes after session 12?

When appropriate, the program provides a foundation for the later DBT Skills Group sequence and more advanced work.

Related pathways

Get a fit, safety, and next-step recommendation before committing to a program.

The secure intake provides a clinician-reviewed recommendation; it is not a commitment to ongoing treatment.