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12-week advanced generalization group

DBT Skills Refresher Plus

A structured online group for DBT graduates who know the language of skills but need to re-ground, troubleshoot avoidance, and make DBT show up more consistently in ordinary life.

  • 12 weeks of 90-minute online sessions
  • Designed for people with an established DBT foundation
  • Recovery Goals reviewed at weeks 1, 6, and 12
  • Focus on generalization, avoidance, self-sufficiency, and life-worth-living goals

You do not need to choose the perfect program first

The intake reviews risk, current supports, treatment history, goals, availability, funding, and the amount of structure needed before a service is recommended.

  • Clinician-reviewed intake
  • Clear service recommendation
  • No referral required
Quick read

The essentials before you decide

Who it is for

People who completed DBT or equivalent skills training and want a deliberate return to practice.

What changes

Skills move from “I know this” to “I use this when life becomes difficult.”

Format

A repeated weekly structure with review, practice, troubleshooting, and recommitment.

Not designed for

People who need first-time DBT education or a higher level of safety support.
Fit and safety

Choose the level of support that matches the pattern

This service may be right for you if…

  • You completed DBT or substantial DBT skills work
  • You have drifted from practice, become avoidant, or keep using skills too late
  • You want structure, accountability, and application rather than repeating the full introductory curriculum
  • Your current risk and stability allow participation in an advanced outpatient group

A different pathway may be safer or more useful when…

  • You have never completed a full DBT foundation
  • Frequent crisis or life-threatening behaviour requires individual or comprehensive DBT
  • You are stable but need a longer bridge into work, relationships, routines, and life-building—Next Steps may fit better
Clinical rationale

Skill loss is often a generalization problem—not a knowledge problem

People can remember DBT concepts and still lose access to them under shame, fear, conflict, fatigue, or avoidance. Refresher Plus rebuilds deliberate practice, identifies where the chain breaks down, and strengthens self-correction without returning to the beginning of the entire curriculum.

Re-ground

Reconnect with core principles, wise mind, observation, and the personal reasons for using DBT.

Sharpen change skills

Revisit the methods that interrupt avoidance, emotional escalation, and ineffective behaviour.

Build self-sufficiency

Strengthen independent review, troubleshooting, recovery after setbacks, and sustained life-worth-living goals.
Program structure

Three phases across 12 weeks

The group uses a progressive structure with measurable Recovery Goals rather than a loose review of favourite skills.

Weeks 1–4 — Re-grounding

Re-establish the practice system, clarify current targets, and identify where skill use has become inconsistent.

Weeks 5–8 — Skills of change

Work directly with avoidance, shame, fear, vulnerability, and behaviour patterns that pull life off course.

Weeks 9–12 — Integration

Apply DBT across relationships, decisions, routines, identity, and self-directed recovery. Review Recovery Goals and continuation plans.
Between-session and practical support

A repeated weekly accountability loop

Consistency comes from a predictable structure that helps participants notice drift early and recommit before the old pattern becomes entrenched.

Review

What happened, where did the plan break down, and what did the consequence teach?

Practise

Rehearse a specific skill or behavioural response rather than discussing change abstractly.

Commit

Choose a realistic application for the coming week and define how progress will be recognized.
Fees and access

Know the practical details before treatment begins

Group fees generally fall within the current DBT Saskatchewan range of $60–$90 per session. Exact rates, funding, and insurance reimbursement depend on individual circumstances and authorization.

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 need to have completed DBT with STG?

No. Equivalent prior DBT skills work may be accepted after clinical review.

Is this simply the basic skills group again?

No. It assumes familiarity with DBT and focuses more heavily on reactivation, troubleshooting, generalization, and self-sufficiency.

What are Recovery Goals?

Concrete goals reviewed at the beginning, midpoint, and end of the program to keep the work tied to real-life functioning.

What if I am currently in frequent crisis?

Refresher Plus may not provide enough support. Intake can identify whether individual or comprehensive DBT is safer.

Is this delivered online?

Yes. The group is designed for secure online participation across Saskatchewan.

Related pathways

You may also be interested in…

DBT Next Steps

Move from stabilization into a six-month life-building and accountability pathway.

DBT Skills Training

Complete a full foundation when the introductory curriculum has not yet been learned.

DBT Individual Therapy

Address personalized patterns that require one-to-one behavioural work.
A practical next step

Start with a clinical fit review—not a guess about the program.

The secure intake gives the clinic enough information to recommend a proportionate and clinically appropriate next step.