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Dialectical Behaviour Therapy•For Professionals

Skills Coaching Guide

A guide for delivering between-session telephone coaching.

A guide for delivering between-session telephone coaching in DBT.

Purpose of phone coaching

Phone coaching helps clients: • Generalise skills to daily life • Get support in the moment of difficulty • Repair therapeutic relationship if needed

Coaching structure

Assess immediate safety
Identify the problem briefly
Identify skills that might help
Coach application of skills
Reinforce skills use
End the call

Boundaries

Keep calls brief (5-10 minutes)
24-hour rule after self-harm
Not for therapy — focus on skills
Set clear expectations about availability