647-573-3287 / info@dialecticalliving.ca

Frequently Asked Questions

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How do I sign up for a course?

You can easily sign up through Eventbrite! See our list of upcoming groups on our website. 

If you’re not sure which course is right for you, please feel free to email us at info@dialecticalliving.ca so we can answer any questions you have before purchasing.

What is DBT?

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based therapy that focuses on 4 major areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. It is considered a “gold standard” treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and it has also been shown to be effective for lots of other mental health conditions and symptoms.

What mental health conditions or symptoms does DBT help with?
  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
  • Eating disorders (such as anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and bulimia nervosa)
  • Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
  • Major depressive disorder (including treatment-resistant major depression and chronic depression)
  • Non-suicidal self-injury
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Substance use disorder
  • Suicidal behavior
What is Dialectical Living?

Recognizing the extreme need for services, Dialectical Living was formed to provide Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) skills and support to those in need. We would like to reduce the needless suffering for many by offering more options to acquire skills learning and support with trained professionals who have lived experience. We strive to create a safe environment to learn and grow. Our mission is to enable those who struggle with emotion regulation and their families and friends a better quality of life; as Marsha Linehan says “a life worth living”.  We also pride ourselves on making our services as accessible as we are able; geographically, financially, and no referral or diagnosis required.

We are a group of health care professionals who are passionate about helping others and teaching and using DBT skills. Each of us have lived experience in addition to health care backgrounds and have been touched by emotion dysregulation either ourselves and/or have lived or worked with others who struggle. We are social workers, social service workers, addiction counsellors and peer support workers who are leading successful lives using DBT skills.  We are family members, friends and/or loved ones overcoming emotion regulation challenges for ourselves and our families using DBT skills.

We hope to exceed your expectations with quality learning and support.  We pride ourselves on making DBT learning a fun, interactive, engaging and a supportive learning experience.

Who teaches the courses?

All courses are taught by highly experienced mental health professionals, including registered social workers (RSWs), whose services are covered by most private insurance plans. 

All Dialectical Living staff staff are also “peers”, meaning they are mental health professionals who also have lived experience of emotion dysregulation–this is something that makes Dialectical Living unique!

What if I’m not ready to commit to a 12 week course?

No worries! Please feel free to book a free, no obligation consultation call with us to discuss any questions and concerns you have. You can also contact us at info@dialecticalliving.ca.

You can also consider the other services we offer, including one-on-one therapy, and the School of DBT, where you learn aspects of DBT at your own pace through pre-recorded online courses. 

I can’t afford a 12 week DBT course right now. Are there other ways I can learn DBT?

Absolutely! We offer subsidies every time we run a group–if you need a subsidy, please email us at info@dialecticalliving.ca to see if you qualify. Also, remember to check your private insurance coverage, if you have any, to see if mental health services are covered. 

You can also check out our affordable do-at-your-own-pace School of DBT courses

If you still feel stuck, book a free consultation call with us to discuss other options. 

Can I talk to someone about the course before I sign up?

Yes! You can book a free consultation call with us to discuss. You can also check out the videos on our website for more information about DBT and our courses.

What are the courses like?

We work hard to make sure that our courses always have a welcoming, positive, and safe environment, with lots of opportunities to interact with other participants. 

All of our courses are currently being offered online, so you can attend from the convenience and comfort of your own home. Our courses are also very interactive–active participation is required and expected because this is the best way to make sure you get the most out of the course and absorb the content well. 

In our intro and advanced skills groups, new skills are taught each week and homework is assigned to help you practice using the skills. At the beginning of each session, you will have an opportunity to discuss with other participants how your practice went.

Attendance is expected at each session but if you need to miss a session or two, you will be able to access a recording on a limited basis.

You are strongly encouraged to do one-on-one therapy at the same time that you do a skills group, to help you absorb and practice all of the skills. If you don’t already have a therapist, get in touch with us at info@dialecticalliving.ca to ask about doing individual therapy with Dialectical Living. 

What if I have other questions?

Feel free to get in touch with us any time at info@dialecticalliving.ca. You can also get in touch by phone at 647-573-DBTS (3287). We would love to hear from you!

Book a free consultation call at a time that is convenient for you.

Check out the videos on our website and blog posts to learn more about DBT. 

Sign up for our mailing list!

Step into wellness

Ready to take the first step?

Sign up for an upcoming DBT group or book a free consultation call!

Get started on your DBT journey today.