DBT SKILLS GROUP FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH CHRONIC PAIN
Group sessions are held every Friday at 11:30am via Zoom for 20 weeks.
We are busy with a module, but if you can’t wait for the next one, you can still enroll now. The next official intake will be 12 September
Having chronic pain results in your stress response getting stuck on maximum volume. With the result that, frequently, things which shouldn’t hurt, or trigger pain do. Examples might include a fight with a loved one, financial worries, or a stressful day at work.
You also end up worrying about the implications of living with chronic pain. When you have a flare up this can trigger intrusive thoughts for example: I might lose my job and won’t be able to take care of my family or; this pain is never going to end, it is killing me. You might become scared of exercising because you fear you may injure yourself further.
The other thing that happens when you live with chronic pain, is that it can become very isolating. People in your life might not understand why you are not getting better, or they may start to think that you are pretending in order to avoid doing things. This can have a negative impact on your relationship with the people in your life.
Why DBT Skills Are Helpful for People Living with Chronic Pain
Living with chronic pain isn’t just about managing your pain — it often comes with emotional distress, relationship strain, and a sense of hopelessness. That’s why managing chronic pain effectively requires more than just medication.
What is DBT?
DBT is a structured form of therapy that teaches practical skills in four key areas:
Mindfulness: Being present without judgment
Distress tolerance: Coping with crisis without making things worse
Emotion regulation: Understanding and managing intense feelings
Interpersonal effectiveness: Navigating relationships with clarity and confidence
While DBT was originally developed for people with emotional dysregulation, it’s increasingly being used to support those managing chronic health conditions — including chronic pain.
Why DBT Skills Matter for Chronic Pain
1. Pain and emotions are deeply connected
Pain can trigger anxiety, frustration, sadness, and even panic. These emotional responses can, in turn, worsen the experience of pain. DBT teaches emotion regulation skills that help break this cycle, giving you more control over your internal world — even when the pain persists.
2. It helps you manage pain-related distress
When pain flares up or becomes overwhelming, we can fall into unhelpful reactions like withdrawing, lashing out, or catastrophising. DBT’s distress tolerance skills offer healthier ways to cope in the moment, without resorting to harmful behaviours or spiraling emotionally.
3. It improves relationships affected by pain
Chronic pain can strain relationships with partners, children, friends, and colleagues. DBT’s interpersonal effectiveness skills help you communicate your needs clearly and build stronger, more supportive connections.
4. It builds a sense of control
One of the hardest parts of chronic pain is the loss of control. DBT emphasises mindfulness — learning to observe your experience without judgment and respond thoughtfully rather than reactively. This can reduce feelings of helplessness and increase your sense of agency.
DBT doesn’t take the pain away — but it can change how you live with it.
People who incorporate DBT skills into their pain management often report:
Feeling more emotionally balanced
Having better relationships
Being more resilient in the face of pain
Rediscovering a sense of purpose and joy
This DBT skills group runs for 20 weeks. Sessions are carefully planned to equip you with the tools you need to manage stress, control emotions, and navigate relationships with confidence.
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Mindfulness skills are taught in each module. These skills help you stay present and reduce emotional reactivity to pain.
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Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills Strengthen relationships and communicate your needs effectively.
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Distress Tolerance Skills
Manage pain-related stress and setbacks without feeling overwhelmed.
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Emotion Regulation Skills
Break the cycle of fear, frustration, and hopelessness.
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20 weeks of online group sessions
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Weekly self work and online resources
✺ Frequently asked questions ✺
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This depends on your medical aid, and plan, and whether or not you are seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist. Please contact me to find out.
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Ideally you should join when we start a new group of skills, but if you can’t wait to start, you can join immediately.
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The group follows a 20 week cycle, which costs R13860, including VAT
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After receiving payment, you will be sent a Zoom link to join. We have a WhatsApp group where I share resources and “self work”. Please read the T’s and C’s.
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Once you have contacted me I will send you my bank details for an EFT.
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No refunds are given, but you can join again later that year when you are ready.