DBT for Bulimia & Eating Problems

About the DBT for Bulimia & Eating Problems Program

In 2009, Safer, Telch and Chen, with Linehan’s support, published a new DBT treatment manual for helping people with bulimia and binge eating problems.  This treatment model has been trailed, and researched.  It has good treatment outcomes for participants, which means it works!

The DBT for Bulimia & Eating Problems Program closely follows this treatment model.

Call (03) 9530.9777 or email info@melbournedbtcentre.com.au

The program is helpful for anyone with bulimia, binge eating, over-eating, or most other types of eating disorders.  It is not suitable for anorexia nervosa.

Participants attend weekly 1 hour Individual DBT therapy and a weekly 2 hour DBT Skills Groups with other participants in the program.

The program is not a weight loss or eating technique program.  The focus of the therapy is on learning skills to manage difficult emotions, as these difficult emotions are usually the underlying reason or trigger for why people binge eat or purge.

The program teaches strategies to cope with a range of difficult feelings, as well as skills for dealing with relationships and ways to build self esteem and self respect.

DBT Skills Groups are run like a class, with handouts, notes and homework exercises.  They are highly structured, and do not involve participants disclosing or discussing their personal histories.  Group therapists relate all the DBT Skills to strategies for managing eating difficulties.

Individual DBT Sessions focus on how you apply the skills you are learning in the group to your own personal situation and areas concerns.

Throughout the DBT for Bulimia and Eating Disorders Program, there is direct discussion of how all the DBT strategies apply to eating problems, and how to use the skills to help.

The DBT Skills Groups cover 4 Modules.  These are:

Core Mindfulness Module:

This teaches the foundation or ‘core’ skills of DBT, which are Mindfulness skills.

Interpersonal Effectiveness Module:

This focuses on skills to manage oneself within relationships, as well as strategies to improve self respect and relate in ways that are effective

Emotion Regulation Module:

This module teaches strategies to change, regulate and cope with emotions, and helps in understanding emotions, and addresses areas that exacerbate difficult emotions

Distress Tolerance Module:

This section focuses on strategies to cope with situations without making things worse, and ways to manage distressing events and feelings.

Participants are asked to commit to completing the full program, as we know this is what works and will make the difference.

If you need help in this area and are interested, please contact us by phone or email and make an appointment to discuss intake into the program.

You do not need a GP or psychiatrist to refer you into the program.  You are welcome to contact us yourself directly.  Alternatively, your medial practitioner is welcome to refer you, or they contact us themselves for more information.

Call (03) 9530.9777 or email info@melbournedbtcentre.com.au