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Skills Group Agreements

A Life in Balance DBT Skills Training Program

These are the agreements you make with the group when you join. Some are standard for DBT skills groups everywhere. Some are specific to this curriculum because of the case-study material we use. We will read these together in Week 1, and every member signs.

Standard DBT skills group agreements

  • Members who drop out of skills training are not out of skills training. Skills training is a long-term commitment; missing sessions does not end your membership unless you miss four in a row.

  • Members who miss four scheduled sessions in a row cannot rejoin until the next cycle. This is the four-miss rule. It is firm. It applies regardless of reason.

  • Members do not come to sessions under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If you arrive intoxicated, you may sit in but cannot participate.

  • Members do not discuss past or current self-harm or suicide attempts in detail with other members outside of sessions. Such discussion can be triggering.

  •  Members who call other members for help when in crisis must accept that the called member may decline if they are not in a state to help.

  • Information obtained during sessions, including the names of other members, is confidential.

  • Members who are going to be late or miss a session call ahead.

  • Members do not form private relationships outside of training that exclude or harm other members. Members do not enter sexual or romantic relationships with one another while in training.

Agreements specific to this curriculum

  • We treat the case study as our shared client. Self-disclosure is welcome but never required to participate.

  • We do not detail our own methods, quantities, or means. We describe feelings, not specifics.

  • Any of us can step out at any time without explanation. A facilitator will check in within five minutes.

  • Skills before insight. We identify what could have helped, not just what went wrong.

Agreement & signatures

By signing below, I confirm that I have read these agreements, had the chance to ask questions, and agree to follow them as a member of this group.

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