“All the horrible emotions have passed, I still remained, and I was safe” A Qualitative study of Lesbian and Gay people’s lived experience of completing a full Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) programme

Objectives: Lesbian and gay people experience higher rates of mental health difficulties, including self-harm, suicidal behaviours, as well as inequalities in healthcare than their heterosexual peers. Dialectical behaviour therapy is an evidence-based treatment for self-harm and suicidal behaviours, though there is little research on lesbian and gay peoples’ experiences of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). This research aims to explore lesbian and gay peoples’ experiences of completing a full Dialectical Behaviour Therapy programme.

Design: A qualitative design with semi-structured individual interviews was utilised. The results were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).

Methods: Six lesbian and two gay adults, aged between 22-47, living in the UK took part. All participants had completed a full programme of Dialetcial Behaviour Therapy within the two years prior to interview.

Results: Four superordinate themes emerged from the data: 1) The DBT journey, 2) Connections and Sense of Community during DBT, 3) Sexuality both visible and invisible in DBT and 4) A GSRD affirmative future for DBT

Conclusions: Several clinical implications are suggested to improve Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for Lesbian and Gay People (LGP) e.g., to consider having other lesbian and gay people within Dialectical Behaviour Therapy groups, create a more Gender, sexuality, relationship diverse affirming Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (changes to Dialectical Behaviour Therapy manual, dialectical behaviour therapists, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy programme and physical Dialectical Behaviour Therapy space), adapt dialectical behaviour techniques to manage sexuality-related difficulties and adopting a Gender, Sexuality, Relationship Diverse centric framework. Overall, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy appears to be beneficial for lesbian and gay people.