The Waterford DBT
Programme
Building a Life Worth Living
Client Information Leaflet
HSE Waterford/South Kilkenny
Adult Mental Health Service
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Programme
Waterford DBT Programme - Client Information Leaflet
What is the Waterford DBT Programme?
The Waterford DBT Programme is the Waterford and South Kilkenny Mental Health
Service treatment for persons with a diagnosis of Borderline Personality
Disorder/Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder. The programme is based on an
evidence based treatment called Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). DBT was originally
developed by psychologist Dr. Marsha Linehan in the United States. It has been widely
researched and is shown to be an effective treatment for persons with a diagnosis of
Borderline Personality Disorder/Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder.
What is Borderline Personality Disorder/Emotionally Unstable
Personality Disorder?
Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder are two
diagnostic terms used by professionals to describe a similar collection of mental health
symptoms. Diagnostic terms or categories help mental health professionals to develop
and provide the most appropriate treatment based on expert research and opinion.
People who meet criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder or Emotionally Unstable
Personality Disorder often have a number of the following difficulties which you may be
able to relate to:

Problems controlling emotions, often feeling depressed, anxious or
angry.

Suicidal thoughts or feelings which are difficult to manage.

Acting impulsively often and in ways that can cause harm to yourself.

Worries about being rejected by family or friends, having fears of
being left alone.

Problems in relationships with others.

Feelings of being unsure of who you really are, or feelings of being
empty.

You may have tried many medications and treatments before which
have not appeared to be effective in the long term.

You may feel like you would like to change, but feel afraid to do so.
Borderline Personality Disorder/Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder is recognised
as one of the most distressing disorders for clients and most difficult for clinicians to
treat. However, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) has been researched and found to
be an effective treatment to help you if you engage in self-harm behaviours as a way of
coping with emotional distress.
What is Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)?
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) was initially developed as a treatment for people
who have difficulties with controlling emotions, with impulsive or out of control
behaviours, and problems in their relationships with others. The therapy aims to help
you to “create a life worth living” by not only accepting you and those around you as
they are, but also by supporting you in learning new coping skills to manage high
emotion.
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Waterford DBT Programme - Client Information Leaflet
What does The Waterford DBT Programme involve?
The programme aims to support you in decreasing self-harm behaviours that interfere
with you living the kind of life you would like to live. The programme is a comprehensive
treatment in which you will be offered the following:
1) 2.5 hours of Skills Training group classes each week to assist you in learning
how to:
 Be more aware of your thoughts, feelings and actions and how they impact on
your behaviour (Mindfulness skills)
 Build skills to cope more effectively during stressful life events (Distress
Tolerance)
 Practice skills in understanding and managing your emotions (Emotion
Regulation)
 Improve your ability to relate to people and to feel more skilled and confident
in doing so (Interpersonal Effectiveness)
2) 1 hour of Individual Therapy each week: to help you to practice skills from
the group classes and to learn how to use these skills in your every day life.
3) Skills Coaching (Telephone Contact): You will have a mobile telephone contact
for your individual therapist. You will be able to contact the therapist at certain times in
between sessions to advise you on what skills you can use to help you cope with
stressful or challenging situations.
4) Team Consultation Meeting: Those members of the DBT programme involved in
your care will meet each week. The main goal of this meeting is to make sure that each
therapist is providing DBT correctly and to ensure that the treatment is helpful for you.
The programme runs for 12 months. In order for us to ensure that the programme is
meeting your needs, you will be asked to complete a number of assessment measures at
various time points throughout the programme.
I am interested in finding out more information about DBT…
If you are interested in attending this programme you will need to be referred by a
member of your local Adult Mental Health Team. S/He will complete a standard referral
form which will outline your main difficulties – this form will then be forwarded to the
Waterford DBT team. You will be contacted by a DBT team member shortly after your
referral is received and you may then be offered an assessment with a DBT therapist.
Places are limited so this assessment may take a number of sessions to complete
(typically 3-4) and aims to ensure that DBT is the right treatment for you at this time.
Other sources of information about DBT:
You will get an opportunity during your assessment to ask the DBT therapist any further
questions you may have about DBT. In the meantime, if you wish to find out more about
DBT you can watch a YouTube video clip of Marsha Linehan that was recorded during her
trip to Ireland in June, 2014. The link to this video is provided below:
http://youtu.be/fR7Oi0cyoVo
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