Finland

All these examples are from Helsinki University Hospital (HUH). All DBT treatments are provided within the public healthcare system and are free of charge for patients.

1. At Adult Psychiatry, a comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) program is provided. The program includes individual therapy, skills training groups, coaching phone calls, and a weekly consultation team. There are 32 treatment slots available within the program, which is run by two DBT teams consisting of trained DBT therapists. The DBT program is targeted at patients who exhibit severe self-harming behaviours, have frequent psychiatric hospitalizations, and experience significant difficulties with emotional regulation. At any given time, four skills groups are actively running. Treatment typically begins with a therapy contract lasting 3 to 6 months, which can be extended up to a maximum duration of two years. In addition to the main DBT program, 4 – 5 separate skills groups are available for patients with milder emotional regulation difficulties.
2. At Child Psychiatry, a Dialectical Behavior Therapy program for adolescents (DBT-A) is provided, with an added focus on working with parents. The treatment program includes individual therapy for the child, a 24-session multifamily skills group, coaching phone calls for both the child and parents, monthly family meetings, and separate parent sessions focused on strengthening parenting and DBT skills (typically every other week, as needed). A weekly consultation team also supports the treatment process. The program usually lasts about 6 months and can be extended for an additional 6-month period if necessary. It can accommodate approximately 12 families at a time. There are two DBT teams with about 12 trained DBT therapists in total. Two multifamily skills groups are continuously running, based on an open-group format where new families are integrated on an ongoing basis. DBT treatment is offered to children aged approximately 11–13 who experience significant emotional regulation difficulties, serious self-harming behaviour, and suicidal ideation. Each family is supported by two DBT therapists: one dedicated to the child and the other to the parents.
3. At Psychiatry Day Unit in Hyvinkää offers a DBT program that includes individual therapy, skills groups, support from a consultation team, and real-time coaching during weekdays. Skills groups meet four mornings per week, with a full treatment cycle lasting 14 weeks. A 7-week refresher course is offered about six months later. The program also includes activity-based, physical, and creative groups where patients practice DBT skills in real-life contexts. Individual therapy typically takes place twice a week, with flexibility for more frequent sessions. The unit accommodates 17 patients and is staffed by 6 nurses, 1 psychologist, and a physician who visits weekly.