DBT Clients for KingsView Counseling for Kings County Afterhours

Introduction

Effective Tuesday April 3^rd, we will collaborate with KingsView on their comprehensive DBT(Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) treatment program for adolescents and adults. They will be offering telephone coaching for clients enrolled in the program. This coaching will be provided by the KingsView Crisis Staff and will be available 24/7. During regular operating hours clients are to contact their primary therapist and leave a message for them if not immediately available. The primary therapist will return the call and conduct the counseling. During holidays, after-hours, and weekends, when the therapist will not be available so clients will be encouraged to use their skills to identify when they are vulnerable for a crisis episode and in need of coaching. DBT clients often times struggle with emotional regulation and may present with medium to high risk of suicide or self-harm. Coaching helps de-escalate the potential for a crisis episode (which may include suicidal ideation, self-mutilation and other risky and in-effective behaviors.) Our crisis line counselors will not be expected to do the coaching. Our role is to connect the DBT client with the on-call crisis worker. 

Role of the Crisis Line Counselor

A KingsView client will call us and state they are receiving “DBT Training” or that they are in a DBT program  and they need to speak to a therapist for “DBT coaching .”  Please do not ask the caller if they are a DBT client. If the caller does not mention DBT training, then talk to the caller like you would normally.

Screen for imminent danger to self or others, or other potential safety concerns, and if they ARE at risk proceed with our usual protocols.

Once immediate risk is ruled out and it is clear that the client is a participant in the DBT program and in need of coaching take the client’s full name, and phone number and tell them that the on-call crisis worker will be contacted and to wait for a call. Remind the client that it may take 20 minutes or more for a return call.

Call the on-call crisis worker and give them the information. If you get a voicemail, do not leave any client information. Say your name, the time, and the backdoor number: 510-420-2489.

Write up the call in the caller’s file.  If they do not have a file, please make a new file for the caller. Do not use the Non-Urgent Write Up Button. 

If you have any questions please contact David or Binh.

Here's a flowchart for the pictorially inclined.