DBT, Community, and the Power of Showing UP

This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week (13–19th May) invites us to explore the theme of Community. How we build it, how we nurture it, and how it supports mental wellbeing. Having recently co-facilitated a Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) group, the theme couldn’t feel more relevant or timely.

Over 13 weeks, from November 2024 to February 2025, I had the privilege of co-leading a DBT group alongside my colleague Georgina. During that time, I witnessed the steady formation of a community one built on validation, shared experience, and the courage it takes to keep showing up, especially when things are hard and when you feel like you just don’t want to be there.

On reflection, I’m reminded of something I often overlook, both personally and professionally: the DBT group reminded me that community isn’t only about who we’re with it’s also about how we relate to each other. It’s how we support one another through difficult moments, how we listen, how we hold space, and how trust is built over time through consistency and care.

I’ll admit, I had my own feelings of anxiety about how the group would come together. Some of the clients were hesitant in those early sessions understandably anxious, unsure about what to expect, and uncertain whether they belonged. But with gentle encouragement and consistent support from Georgina and me, things began to shift. Over the first few weeks, clients settled. They became more open with one another, taking small but meaningful steps to share their experiences and emotions.

I saw our clients’ willingness to learn, to try new things, and to return the next week even when using the skills outside of group hadn’t gone exactly to plan. These acts of showing up, trying again, and being vulnerable helped build connection and trust.