• Our DBT program includes only skills training (no phone coaching). Our 24-hour crisis team is available, and we strongly encourage all clients to develop a crisis support plan with their therapist.
• For groups that meet virtually via Zoom, each member needs a private e-mail address, a device capable of video calls, a consistent internet connection, and a private space to ensure confidentiality. If a reliable internet connection concerns you, please contact your DBT group leader, as telehealth rooms are available at all CMMHC locations.
• We maintain a waiting list for all our DBT groups. People are placed on a waiting list when they meet eligibility requirements.
• We cannot separate our groups by age or gender, so there are often people of differing ages and gender identities within one group.
• DBT binders are available for all groups at the Elk River and St. Cloud offices. Group members can keep their binders for free. We cannot send binders by mail.

• New clients must have completed a comprehensive evaluation/diagnostic assessment or an outside comprehensive evaluation within the past six months.
• An intake provider, reception support staff, or other CMMHC provider (ARMHS worker, case management, etc.) must enter a DBT group referral into our system.
• All DBT group members must attend individual therapy at a frequency suggested by their therapist (the provider does not have to be at CMMHC). We recommend a minimum of 1 session every other week. 
• CMMHC only accepts referrals when clients engage in individual therapy and have a comprehensive evaluation/diagnostic assessment.
• If the individual’s therapist is at an agency outside CMMHC, a signed Release of Information form is required to facilitate communication regarding treatment.

Upon acceptance onto the waiting list, group members must sign the DBT Contract/Consent Form, available on the Forms webpage under Consent and Release. Receiving a DBT contract does not mean that a person is starting a group immediately. 

• New members start when the module changes every eight to nine weeks. We then contact individuals on the waiting list to see if they are ready to join a group. Individuals can ask to remain on the new referrals waiting list if they cannot start at that time or request removal from the waiting list if they are no longer interested in the program.
• New referrals are contacted first based on the order in which they were referred and approved for a DBT group. We provide adequate response time to communicate acceptance to a group and will not hold a spot past a communicated deadline. 
• Not responding when contacted or missing one of the first two weeks of a group moves an individual to a lower-priority waiting list, leading to longer wait times.
• If a person declines participation twice or fails to respond by a deadline twice, they are removed from the waiting list and must submit a new referral. 

• Participation in a DBT group requires a minimum six-month commitment, and group members are encouraged to attend for a year to integrate skills fully.
• Each module runs for 8-9 weeks. 
• All groups meet weekly except for holidays. Each module has one week off “built-in” to the schedule, whether or not a holiday occurs.
• Attendance at the first two sessions, Orientation and Mindfulness, is required. Missing one results in discharge from the group and placement on a lower-priority waiting list. 
• Failure to attend the first two weeks for two separate modules results in removal from the program and requires a new referral.
• Discharge from the DBT program occurs if a person misses three group sessions in an eight-to-nine-week module. To rejoin the program, a new referral and completed attendance form are needed. An individual can only rejoin the group once the same module starts again around six months later.

• DBT coverage depends on each individual’s insurance plan. If you have concerns about coverage, please contact your insurance company directly.
• We accept most insurance plans. We also offer private pay and sliding scale options. Please note that we may not be able to accept all insurance plans based on provider availability.
• Please note that most insurance companies will not pay for individual and group therapy sessions on the same day. We strongly encourage our clients to schedule individual and group therapy sessions on separate days to avoid paying out of pocket (keep this in mind if your therapist is outside CMMHC). We do not allow scheduling on the same day if you receive individual and group therapy through CMMHC.

• Adult DBT groups are for people ages 18+. A Virtual Group meets on Mondays from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
• The adult groups utilize Linehan’s handouts and teaching methods and are relatively fast-paced.
• We have an adapted DBT group option for people who prefer a simplified approach to DBT skills. This group type is suitable for those with a learning disability or other cognitive impairment, utilizing simpler DBT handouts for easier understanding. If this group best fits you, please let us know when you request a referral.
• The Tuesday Adapted Group meets virtually from 10-11:30 am.
• Materials and links for virtual groups are sent via email weekly. If the email is not in your inbox, check your spam folder! If you cannot find the email, please call the Elk River or St. Cloud office to verify the email address on file.

• The Teen DBT group is for adolescents ages 13-17. It meets virtually on Thursdays from 4-5:30 pm.
• We are utilizing Linehan’s handouts, which are adapted for teenagers.
• Clients who turn 18 during a module can consult with the group leader to determine if the teen group is still a good fit for them.
• Materials and links for virtual groups are sent via email weekly. If the email is not in your inbox, check your spam folder! If you cannot find the email, please call the Elk River or St. Cloud office to verify the email address on file.