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Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services - Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
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Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) is an intensive evidence-based treatment for young people who present with self-harm and suicidal behaviours.
DBT is a community based intervention for children and young people aged 13-17, who are struggling with persistent difficulties with emotion dysregulation.
It is the recommended treatment by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, 2022) for children and young people who frequently self-harm in the context of significant difficulties with emotion dysregulation.
DBT aims to help the young person understand the harmful behaviours and replace these with more skilful behaviours, in order to help them create a life they want to live.
Our programme includes:
- Weekly individual DBT therapy sessions for the young person
- Weekly DBT skills group for the young person (three modules — 7 weeks each)
- Weekly DBT skills group for the parent/carer (three modules — 7 weeks each)
- Daily telephone skills coaching (9pm — 5pm) for the young person
- Weekly DBT consult for the DBT therapists/team
- Consultation with the team psychiatrist as necessary
- Parent worker/care co-ordinator and family sessions
- At least six months of DBT with the option to extend up to 12 months.
Feedback provided from young people, parents and carers:
“All staff on the DBT Team are very helpful and friendly, they make you feel at ease and build strong relationships with service users. They validate from both sides and have excellent strategies to help build positive parent/child relationships and experiences.”
“I was validated for the first time in my life, I never ever feel like I’m not being taken seriously and everyone always knows how to help and guide me to the skills to use.”
“Our care was tailored to suit us and our child's specific needs. Our practitioners took the time to understand our difficulties and get to know us as a family. There was always someone available when we needed them. All the team were wonderful, and we cannot thank them enough.”
Watch Flo's story — a young person who has completed DBT treatment.
Our team
We are a multidisciplinary team. This means we are a group of clinicians from different professional backgrounds such as clinical psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists and nurses, who are trained in delivering DBT to young people.
When young people are in DBT we also work closely with other local services across Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich.
These include:
- GPs
- Schools
- Social services
- Other community organisations
We recognise that everyone plays an important role in supporting young people to reduce harmful behaviours and support good mental health.
How to access this service
You can be referred to this service if:
- You are open to Bexley, Bromley, and Greenwich CAMHS with an allocated care co-ordinator
- You are aged 13 to 17
- From any culture, gender identity and sexual orientation
- You have symptoms/behaviours associated with emotion dysregulation and linked behaviours such as self-harm and suicidality
You will not be referred to the service if:
- You are substance dependent (not misuse)
- You have another psychiatric disorder/health problem which requires more urgent assessment/treatment
Referrals
Referrers must complete referral form and send to the DBT generic inbox, along with completing the MacLeans questionnaire with the young person.
Clinicians are able to book a consultation if wishing to discuss suitability for a referral.
How to contact this service
Phone number: 0203 260 5211
Open from Monday to Friday 9am-5pm.
If you need help urgently, please contact:
SLP CAMHS Crisis Line: 0203 228 5980
Open from Monday to Friday 5pm to 11pm)
Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays 9am to 11pm
Outside of the above times, please call:
Oxleas Urgent Crisis Line: 0800 330 8590
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