Acceptability and Feasibility of an Adapted DBT-informed Skills Group for Gender Diverse Young People Co-delivered in a Charity Setting

Acceptability and Feasibility of an Adapted DBT-informed Skills Group for Gender Diverse Young People Co-delivered in a Charity Setting

Gender diverse (e.g. trans or non-binary) young people are at higher risk of self-harm and may be more likely to access support through gender-diverse-specific 3rd sector charities. Dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) is a transdiagnostic intervention targeting emotion dysregulation, self-harm and suicidality and is recommended by best-practice clinical guidelines; There is developing evidence that DBT skills training can be offered as an effective stand-alone intervention.The current study, therefore, aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and early indicators of effectiveness of a DBT-informed skills group intervention in a gender diverse charity setting. The intervention will be co-facilitated with a gender-diverse support worker from the charity to develop the therapeutic skills of the charity staff working with the young people, whilst they provide specialist knowledge and valuable lived experience.

Research questions

1. Is the intervention feasible to deliver in a charity setting?
2. Is the intervention acceptable to participants and charity facilitators?

Participants will attend a 16-week group intervention. They will complete questionnaire to assess acceptability at the end of the intervention. Attrition rates, training time, and questionnaires will be used to assess feasibility. Outcome measures will also be completed by the participants every three weeks to indicate possible effectiveness of the intervention. The outcomes will include emotion dysregulation, coping skills, anxiety, depression and suicidal behaviours.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 16-25 years old
• Identify as gender diverse
• Receiving support from Gendered Intelligence
• Support worker identified and self-report emotion regulation difficulties.

Exclusion Criteria:

• In acute crisis at point of recruitment and start of the intervention such as active suicidal ideation with active plans, or severe self-harm requiring intensive interventions such as inpatient or crisis care.