DBT Skills Refresher Plus Group

From skill acquisition → to self-sufficiency → to a life worth living.

You already did DBT. You learned the skills. You stabilized. But “knowing the skills” and using the skills when life gets real are two different things.

STG’s DBT Skills Refresher Plus is a 12-week online group (90-minute sessions) built for DBT graduates who want to re-ground, sharpen, and actually generalize DBT into daily life—especially when avoidance, shame, fear, or drifting off track starts pulling you back.

Quick Read (60 seconds)

12-week online group for graduates of standard 12-week DBT programs (or longer)
Built for BPD / chronic emotional dysregulation presentations with behavioral stabilization
Focus: not re-learning skills… but mastering and applying skills for stability, meaning, and connection
Every session has a repeatable structure (Good News + Mindfulness, Check-In, Troubleshooting, New Material, Integration)
Uses a self-sufficiency / Recovery Goals framework across five life domains
You’ll track progress using the Recovery Goals Self-Assessment at Weeks 1, 6, and 12

Does any of this feel familiar?

This group is for you if you’ve ever thought:

“I know the skills… but I don’t use them when I’m activated.”
“I’m stable, but I’m stuck on the ledge—safe, but not moving toward my life.”
“Avoidance is my problem now (not crisis)… and it’s quietly shrinking my life.”
“I want a clean system for staying on track—without starting over again.”
You want a plan that’s structured, practical, and actually trainable—not just “talk about it.”

If that’s you, you’re not broken. You’re at the next stage. And this is exactly what this group is built for: the transition from stability to self-sufficiency and life worth living momentum.

Why it’s called “Refresher Plus”

A typical refresher reviews content.

Refresher Plus builds a practice system—so DBT becomes how you live, not just what you learned.

The “Plus” is the weekly engine:

You name a clear long-term Ambition (your north star)
You commit to one Action Step each week
You report progress (including % completion), and we troubleshoot what got in the way
You identify avoidance early—and build a prevention plan

This is how skills generalize.

What you’ll learn (and re-master)

This 12-week program is organized into three phases:

Phase 1: Re-Grounding (Weeks 1–3)

Week 1: Core Dialectic + Biosocial Theory (Wise Mind, DBT assumptions)
Week 2: Mindfulness Mastery (What skills, How skills, non-judgment)
Week 3: Radical Acceptance + Distress Tolerance integration (TIPP, ACCEPTS, IMPROVE)

Phase 2: Skills of Change (Weeks 4–9)

Week 4: Deconstructing Emotions (Model of Emotions, Check the Facts, PLEASE)
Week 5: Activating Change (Opposite Action, Problem Solving)
Week 6: Building Resilience (Accumulate Positives, Build Mastery, Cope Ahead)
Week 7: The Art of the Ask (DEAR MAN + interpersonal priorities)
Week 8: Relationships + Self-Respect (GIVE, FAST, balancing priorities)
Week 9: Walking the Middle Path (advanced validation + self-validation)

Phase 3: Integration + Self-Sufficiency (Weeks 10–12)

Week 10: Crisis Rehearsal (DT plan, Pros/Cons, willingness)
Week 11: Sustaining Commitment (barrier analysis + commitment strategies)
Week 12: Your Blueprint for a Life Worth Living (maintenance planning + graduation)

What a session looks like (90 minutes, every week)

Predictable structure = easier follow-through.

10 min: Good News + brief mindfulness (builds positive attention + group cohesion)
25 min: Check-In (Ambition → Action Step → progress → avoidance → next commitment)
20 min: Assignment review + troubleshooting
25 min: New material teaching + practice
10 min: Integration + next assignment + closing

The Self-Sufficiency Framework

What we are actually building

Instead of vague “quality of life” goals, we use five concrete Recovery Goal domains:

Meaningful Engagement (purpose, follow-through, values-based structure)
Interpersonal Proficiency (effective relationships under stress, boundaries, feedback)
Life Outside Primary Roles (support network + community connection)
Emotional Proficiency (feel fully without avoidance; reduce problem emotions effectively)
Self-Management (time, health, routines, practical life demands)

You’ll complete the Recovery Goals Self-Assessment at Weeks 1, 6, and 12 to target the domains that matter most right now.

Who this group is for

(What you’ll learn)

Designed for people who:

completed a standard 12-week (or longer) DBT program
have a primary presentation of BPD patterns and/or chronic emotional dysregulation
are behaviorally stabilized (minimal/no life-threatening behaviors in the past 8 weeks)
have basic competence in DBT skills and want to build life worth living goals
want self-sufficiency across life domains (not just “work outcomes”)

What you Get

what changes when it works)

A structured 12-week roadmap with clear weekly focus areas
A repeatable weekly check-in system that targets avoidance and builds follow-through
Skill practice designed for real-life application, not “perfect worksheets”
A measurable way to track growth via the Recovery Goals domains
Access to the STG Health Online Clinic, a comprehensive collection of custom psychoeducation courses to continue your learning.

Common Questions

Free for current STG Clients?

Yes, Attendance in the DBT Skills Plus group is free for current STG Health clients who attend at least one indiviual session every four (4) weeks.

I am currently not an STG client. Can I join?

Yes, talk to one of the STG health therapists by booking a discovery call. Group Sessions are $70 per week.

Is this the same as DBT Skills Training?

No. Skills Training is for learning DBT skills from the beginning. Refresher Plus is designed for graduates who already completed a comprehensive DBT program and want mastery + generalization.

Do I need an official BPD diagnosis?

Not necessarily. Fit is based on patterns and goals, not labels.

What if I’m currently in crisis?

This group is intended for people who are currently stabilized (minimal/no life-threatening behaviors in the past 8 weeks). If you’re at imminent risk, call 911 or go to emergency.

Do I have to share personal details in group?

No one is forced to disclose. The focus is skills practice, troubleshooting, and weekly commitments. The goal is effectiveness—not oversharing.

What makes this program “stickier” than doing DBT worksheets on my own?

The weekly structure forces what most people avoid: committing, reporting, troubleshooting, and re-committing—with support and pacing.

Is this program good for BPD? What about bipolar disorder?

DBT skills training is widely used for BPD patterns (emotion intensity, impulsivity, relationship instability). For bipolar disorder, DBT skills can be helpful as a support alongside medical care—especially for distress tolerance, emotion regulation, interpersonal stability, and routines that protect mood.

Do I need to also do individual therapy?

Not always. Some people do skills training on its own; others do best with skills + individual counselling so skills get applied to personal triggers and patterns. Intake helps determine what’s safest and most effective.

Is this program appropriate if I’m self-harming or feeling suicidal?

DBT can be appropriate for high-risk patterns, but the level of support matters. Intake helps determine whether group skills alone is sufficient or whether you need more intensive support first. If you’re at imminent risk, call 911 or go to emergency.

What if I’m anxious about group, privacy, or being judged?

That’s common. Skills groups are structured and facilitated. You’re never forced to share anything you don’t want to. You’ll get clear expectations around respectful participation and confidentiality.

What happens if I miss a session?

Life happens. You’ll be given clear expectations and options (catch-up steps, materials, or support recommendations) so one missed session doesn’t become “I failed, so I quit.”

Is this offered online across Saskatchewan?

Yes. Services are delivered virtually so you can access support from anywhere in Saskatchewan.

Ready to turn “I know DBT” into “I live DBT”?

If you’re done surviving and you’re ready to build something steady—this is your next step. It will continue to be difficult, but worth it, just like standard DBT Skills Training.