DBT Skills Supportive Group

1. This is a supportive psychotherapy group that does not replace the need for professional help and medications. Participants need to continue their current treatment during the course. Even though the facilitators are trained and licensed mental health professionals, they are not acting as an individual therapist in their role as group facilitator. The course material are presented from a scientific perspective.
2. Participants need to be stable, able to commit the time required, concentrate, absorb the key concepts, complete the basic exercises and not be at risk to themselves or others so that a safe, productive and supportive learning environment can be maintained. The facilitators will ask participants who need additional help to consult their helping professionals. Participants who are not suitable for the course will be provided with referral to other resources.
3. Attendance of all the online sessions, engaging with the audio-visual and written course material for each session and participation in the in group discussions, sharing, self-reflection and skill building exercises are required for maximum benefit and growth.
4. Participants will share what they are comfortable sharing and discussing since the sessions are recorded for members paying for the access to recordings.  Please refrain from sharing anything that you may have concerns about group members knowing about you through the group or watching the recording.  The group members in the group and watching the recording will commit to confidentiality to protect each other’s privacy. 
5. Participants who are absent for emergencies, illness and other reasons beyond their control are expected to notify the facilitator as soon as possible and complete the work for the session that they have missed to the best of their ability.
6. I acknowledge that my personal and relational growth is my own responsibility and am willing to take this responsibility by facing myself, engaging and renewing my way of thinking, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviour and experience without avoiding, blaming myself or others. I understand that I am fully and solely responsible for the results and decisions that I make regarding my use of this group. I release the facilitator, the resource developers and all related institutions and organizations from any and all liability and accept full responsibility for my involvement in this group and the use of any related materials. 
7. Participants can support each other through mutual acceptance, understanding, validation, empathy and encouragement.
8. Participants are also required to complete self-assessments before and after the group to gauge their progress and encourage self-awareness and self-reflection, which is the first step in personal and relational growth.
9. In emergency situations or times when the participant is at imminent risk of hurting him/herself or others, then he or she will need to go to the closest emergency department or call 911 for immediate assistance or 988 for suicide crisis.
10. Participants may be involved in photographs, testimonies, and the production of short audio-visual clips for the purpose of promotion and helping other course participants.
11. Participants understand the Risks of using electronic communication and that Grace Health Centre (GHC) Team will use reasonable means to protect the security and confidentiality of information sent and received using email and/or text messages. However, because of the risks outlined below, the GHC Team cannot guarantee the security and confidentiality of electronic communications.
    • Use of electronic communications to discuss sensitive information can increase the risk of such information being disclosed to third parties.
    • Despite reasonable efforts to protect the privacy and security of electronic communication, it is not possible to completely secure the information.
    • Employers and online services may have a legal right to inspect and keep electronic communications that pass through their system.
    • Electronic communications can introduce malware into a computer system and potentially damage or disrupt the computer, networks, and security settings.
    • Electronic communications can be forwarded, intercepted, circulated, stored, or even changed without the knowledge or permission of the GHC Team or the patient.
    • Even after the sender and recipient have deleted copies of electronic communication, back-up copies may exist on a computer system.
    • Electronic communications may be disclosed in accordance with a duty to report or a court order.
    • Videoconferencing using services may be more open to interception than other forms of videoconferencing.

Participants acknowledge and understand that despite recommendations that encryption software be used as a security mechanism for electronic communications, it is possible that communications with the GHC Team using the Services may not be encrypted. Despite this, I agree to communicate using video conferencing, email and/or text messages with a full understanding of the risk.

12. The group session fee is non-refundable by the start of the first group session. If participants cancel after the first session, the fee for accessing recording and resources will be prorated and can be kept as “credit” for future courses. A “credit’ will be valid for 24 months, starting from the date of your cancellation.