SAGE Progressions DBT: Skills Strengthening, Individual Therapy and DBT Graduate Skills Group
SAGE Progressions DBT gives young adults a place to check in and support one another while learning to apply DBT skills in their lives.
What is SAGE Progressions DBT?
SAGE Progressions DBT is a graduate DBT skills group in which participants deepen their understanding of DBT skills, learn advanced skills, and strengthen their ability to apply these skills to overcome their particular challenges. In addition to reviewing the four core DBT skillsets of mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, group members learn problem-solving and conflict-resolution strategies, discuss how to build confidence and self-esteem, explore what is meaningful and valuable in their lives, and learn how to overcome common barriers in successful DBT skill use. This group emphasizes peer support and community, and time is dedicated each session to peer consultation. During peer consultation, group members are invited to share about some of the challenges they face, and consider with group members and leaders how they can apply DBT skills and principles to navigate these challenges. Group meets Tuesdays from 10:00am-12:00pm for 10 weeks.
While in group, participants will also meet at least once per week with their individual DBT therapist, and will receive 24/7 DBT phone coaching support from this clinician. The minimum commitment for this group is one cycle of ten weeks. Following completion of ten weeks, members may elect to participate in additional cycles for ongoing support, structure, skill strengthening, and community.
This group is part of the larger SAGE Progressions program, which also includes a CBT group for overcoming avoidance on Wednesdays and an Executive Functioning group for developing skills for independence on Thursdays. SAGE Progressions DBT members may participate in one or both of the other SAGE Progressions groups, or may participate in SAGE Progressions DBT as a standalone treatment experience.
SAGE Progressions DBT FAQs:
When does the group meet?
Tuesdays from 10:00am-12:00pm.
Where does the group meet?
While the SAGE Progressions DBT group meets physically in our White Plains office, all SAGE groups are equipped for hybrid in-person and virtual participation. Clients may participate in groups fully remotely if clinically appropriate, or may participate some days in-person and some days via telehealth. Individual SAGE therapists are located in the White Plains and New York City offices for weekly individual appointments. The White Plains offices is accessible via Metro North for clients living in NYC and the greater Westchester area.
When can new members join?
New members can join each Tuesday.
Do you need to be in individual therapy while in this group?
Yes, and the individual therapist must provide adherent DBT therapy, including 24-hour phone coaching. CBC may provide you with an individual therapist or refer you to individual therapists who provide adherent, 24-hour DBT in the community. If you have a DBT therapist, we can speak with them to see if they are able to provide the individual treatment that you would need to benefit from SAGE Progressions DBT.
How long is the commitment?
The SAGE Progressions DBT group meets once per week for ten weeks.
What is the process for joining?
Patients typically join after they have graduated from SAGE Foundations or another foundational DBT skills group. Patients coming from SAGE Foundations or are already in individual therapy at CBC will require a 45-minute orientation session before joining SAGE Progressions DBT. If you have been referred from an outside DBT program, call CBC’s intake line at 914 385 1150 x1 or 212 595 9559 x 1 to schedule a 90-minute intake. The intake consists of 60 minutes of assessment with the young adult patient, and 30 minutes of orientation to the program for young adults and their parents.
What can I hope to achieve after I finish this program?
After ten weeks in SAGE Progressions DBT, most patients will remember their DBT skills and know how to apply them more seamlessly in their lives. They will have a greater understanding of more advanced and nuanced concepts in DBT, and will have more confidence to troubleshoot barriers that may keep them stuck. Applying DBT skills in the face of emotional dysregulation will be a lifelong goal, similar to maintaining other health practices such as regular exercise.
What are the options for aftercare?
After completion of SAGE Progressions DBT, patients have the option of repeating the group for additional cycles of ten weeks for ongoing support, structure, skill strengthening, and community. They may alternatively enroll in one of the other two SAGE Progressions groups: a CBT group for overcoming avoidance on Wednesdays and an Executive Functioning group for developing skills for independence on Thursdays. Patients may also simply continue in individual therapy with their therapist for ongoing support and implementation of new learning.
Please visit our SAGE program pages for more detail on our specific programs:
SAGE Foundations: Young Adult Individual Therapy + DBT Skills Group
- SAGE Progressions: Individual Therapy and Skill Generalization Groups