Phone coaching is an important part of DBT and is targeted at helping clients learn to use skills outside of the therapy office. Phone coaching is offered to clients that are receiving comprehensive DBT (both individual and skills group training). Coaching is brief usually 10 – 15 minutes where the conversation is focused on helping to use skills to prevent ineffective behavior.
Those who are eligible for phone coaching can call to:
1) Prevent suicidal or self-harm behaviors when skills are not working. This helps clients practice to ask for help PRIOR to a crisis occurring.
2) Get help using skills in daily life situations when having difficulty implementing a skill.
3) Repair the therapeutic relationship when you feel it’s needed.
Ultimately phone coaching is a helpful tool to access skills out of therapy office in times that emotions are high and you want to stay effective!
