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Women's Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Women's Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Women's Partial Hospital Program

The Women’s Partial Hospital Program at Butler Hospital is designed to help individuals struggling with emotion regulation. They may feel overwhelmed by intense emotions (e.g., sadness, fear, anger, or guilt/shame) or disconnected from their feelings at other times. These experiences can cause great difficulty when navigating life’s challenges, and some people try coping in ways that make their lives worse in the long run (e.g., using substances, lashing out at others, overeating, or self-injuring). Our program aims to help individuals manage their emotions and live their lives more effectively.

In the program, you will receive treatment informed by Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in a structured and compassionate environment. Skills training groups will teach selected skills from DBT and individual therapy sessions will help you apply the skills learned to daily life. DBT skills training covers four areas of mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. DBT skills can help people identify and manage emotions, participate fully in the present moment, tolerate difficult situations, and improve interactions with family, friends, and coworkers. Research has shown DBT skills can effectively help with a variety of problems, including suicidal thoughts and behaviors, non-suicidal self-injury, substance misuse, disordered eating, PTSD, chronic depression, and anxiety.

Contact Information:

Women's DBT Program
Butler Hospital
345 Blackstone Boulevard
1st Floor Goddard Building
Providence, RI 02906

To register, call (844) 401-0111. 
Once active in the program, call (401) 455-6224.

Safe Zone
 
Looking for an MSW/MA Internship Opportunity?
Email your request along with a resume to Erin Ursillo at eursillo@butler.org
 
Please note: To intern in our partial programs, MSW or MA students must be able to commit to a morning schedule of M-F so that they can carry a caseload.
*Note: Internships are unpaid.
Program Highlights

The Women's Partial Hospital Program provides group skills training sessions and individual therapy informed by DBT. Group sessions are helpful in learning new coping skills. Brief individual sessions with a therapist are an opportunity to talk about how you can apply those skills to your own personal life and situations.

Medication management and aftercare/discharge planning are also provided. Consultations with other professionals may be included to optimize treatment.

The program is designed to help you manage:

•    Feeling suicidal much of the time
•    Hurting yourself (self-injury)
•    Remaining depressed despite treatment
•    Experiencing spells of emotional "numbness" 
•    Feeling chronically empty
•    Experiencing fears of being abandoned
•    Trouble tolerating emotions
•    Being unable to stop thinking about a traumatic past
•    Impulsive behavior
•    Having numerous psychiatric hospitalizations
•    Painful, unstable relationships

Learn More About the Program

How do I register for the program?

Self-referrals are common and welcome. Referrals from healthcare professionals are optional. Services are covered by most health insurance plans, and we are happy to assist you with reviewing your coverage options.

To secure a start date in this program or to ask questions about this or any program/service we offer, contact our call center at 1(844) 401-0111, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We are here to help you determine the right treatment for you. Calls are quick and easy and never go to voicemail.

How long will I attend the program?

The average length of stay in the program is 10 business days, but this will vary based on individual needs. Consistent attendance once enrolled is required.

What is a typical day like?

The program runs Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. A typical day includes four DBT skills groups with breaks in between. Each day begins with a homework review group and ends with a mindfulness group, and the middle two groups cover other DBT skills you will be assigned to practice at home (homework). You will briefly meet one-on-one with a program therapist daily and you will meet with the medication prescriber on the first day, the last day, and in between as needed.

What will I be doing in the Women's Partial Program?

The program day begins at 9:15 am (7:30 am on the first day only) and ends at 2:30 pm. We ask that patients attempt to arrive by 9:00 am so there is time to park and get up to the group room before the start of group.

Individual therapy check-ins occur in the form of an evaluation on day 1, a brief private session day 2 onward where a patient is pulled from a portion of group each day, and a brief discharge session where the aftercare plan is reviewed with the patient on the last day.

Medication visits with a psychiatrist or nurse practitioner occur on the first day of program, the last day of program, and days in between as needed. While medicine is not necessarily part of everyone’s recovery, the prescribing team will still assess and make any recommendations.

Group curriculum follows a schedule that teaches the fundamentals of the DBT.

Sample Schedule:

Arrival 9:00 am

Group 1- 9:15 am to 10:15 am

15 min break

Group 2- 10:30 am to 11:30 am

45 min lunch

Group 3- 12:15 pm to 1:15 pm

15 min break

Group 4- 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm

Dismissal

Break time is free/unstructured time; however, the program offers a variety of activities if a patient wishes to keep busy and engaged in addition to quiet spaces to rest and relax if a patient prefers. When the weather is nice, many patients step outside to enjoy our beautiful campus and walking path.

Lunch is not provided in the program but we have a cafeteria that serves hot meals, salads, sandwiches and snacks. The cafeteria takes cash or credit and is open during the lunch break. The program space has a microwave and a refrigerator for patient use if anyone wishes to bring their own food from home.

Transportation is not provided in the program. 

What should I bring with me?
  • Picture identification
  • Insurance card
  • List of current medications
  • Name and contact information for current outpatient providers
  • Lunch (or you may use the cafeteria services)
  • Many people find it helpful to bring a notebook
What happens when I'm ready to leave the program?

Our care planners will be available to assist you with aftercare appointments when discharging from the program.

Other Helpful Information

Park in Lot A, enter the building at the Sawyer lobby entrance by the circle driveway and glass doors. Security will guide you once in the building.

Backpacks and large bags are not permitted on the campus.

Please bring a lunch/snacks or money for the cafeteria as food is not provided in the program.

Cell phone use during groups is not permitted. Video recording with any device including tech glasses is not permitted on the premises.

Transportation is not provided in the program however there is a RIPTA bus station in walking distance to our entrance. Cab services, Uber and Lyft are easy to secure in our area. Some insurance companies provide transportation- please call the number on the back of your insurance card to see if you qualify. 

Butler Hospital is a non-smoking campus.