“I realized that when I was walking away, it was me not facing the problem at hand, and it was causing even bigger issues for the other person, especially when I just left abruptly,” said Tanya Serdiney.
Serdiney, a General Arts and Science student at Durham College, shared how she has struggled with walking away from tense situations in the past.
The Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills Group helped her understand that leaving a situation without addressing the issue may not always be the best approach. “It made me realize that just walking away from a tense situation may not be the best thing,” she said. “I should at least, if I need to leave, give proper notice.”
The DBT Skills Group at Durham College is making a significant impact on students’ mental health and overall well-being.
DBT is part of the Calm Campus Series, a program offering a structured and supportive environment where students can gain emotional regulation tools to help them navigate academic pressure, personal struggles and relationships with greater confidence and less stress.
Heather Bickle, wellness coach at the Centre and host of WellPod, explains that DBT is effective in both one-on-one and group settings. “This is just kind of an individual practice that is done in a group setting to really cultivate that sense that you’re not alone,” she said.
DBT balances two key aspects: acceptance and change. “A big focus of DBT therapy is around acceptance,” said Bickle. “And the idea of change, that there may be some positive changes that we can make to help our emotions and to help our behaviours be able to move forward.”
The DBT Skills Group was created in response to a common need among students. “This was just one service offering out of many that we have at the Campus Health and Wellness Centre, after seeing that there was a common need in our students that this type of therapy could potentially help,” according to Bickle.
The necessity for such services is supported by research. According to a study from McGill University, approximately 30 per cent of students experience clinical levels of depression, while 50 per cent report feeling so depressed that they have difficulty functioning. Additionally, around 65 per cent of students reported experiencing overwhelming anxiety.
The DBT program at Durham College has evolved over five years to address these challenges. “It’s certainly not necessarily a newer program here at the Campus Health and Wellness Centre,” Bickle said, noting how the format and facilitation styles have adapted over time.
For Serdiney, what began as a course requirement transformed into a valuable personal journey. “We have to take a general elective, and I took Stress and Wellness,” she shared. “This was just one of the options I could take for an assignment, but it seemed to be more intellectual and very helpful to the mind.”
What she initially thought would be an informational session turned out to be much deeper. “It’s more of a reflective study on yourself,” she said.
One of the most impactful lessons for Serdiney was learning the concept of acceptance, particularly when it comes to letting go of things outside her control. “A huge concept we talked about today was accepting, the things you can’t control.”
“My mom has always said that too, so it kind of reinforced what she’s been preaching to me all these years,” she said. The group setting allowed Serdiney to connect with others who were facing similar challenges. “It helps you to be able to connect,” she said. “There are people in the world just like you.”
Through the group discussions and shared experiences, she found comfort in knowing she wasn’t alone. “I felt understood,” she said.
Serdiney explained how similar teaching as DBT has had a direct impact on her academic life and how she handles stress. “We’ve been doing some of this therapy in our classes previously,” she explained. “It’s called Prep for Academic Success and in that class we were talking about changing our mindset and how we approach situations. Since last semester, my grades have been very different.”
She credits similar strategies like DBT for helping her manage overwhelming coursework. “Sometimes I do get overwhelmed because assignments are big and they overlap, but I’m not as stressed,” she said.
Looking ahead, Serdiney believes the skills she’s developed will continue to benefit her future career as an elementary school teacher. “I think it would help me for showing teaching how to manage my students, how to help my parents, how to also work with my colleagues,” she said. “Every job situation has its problems,” she added. “I think this will prepare me for those challenges to come.”
As more students join the DBT Skills Group, feedback continues to be overwhelmingly positive. Bickle has seen many students return for multiple sessions throughout the year and the anecdotal response has been great. “I’ve crossed paths with students who said, ‘I can’t wait for the winter term to come up so I can rejoin,’” she said.
She believes these ongoing sessions provide students with a foundation that can help them long after they leave college. “This is like a book in life that you don’t read just once,” Bickle said. “A lot of this is going to be lifelong work.”
Serdiney’s advice to others considering the program is simple. Don’t worry about what other people think opinions they go away they come and they go, but it doesn’t define who you are,” she said.
For students seeking support in managing stress, improving communication and fostering personal growth, the DBT Skills Group offers a unique and beneficial opportunity.
The sessions are held at the Wellness Den (C128) every Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. for a limited time. There are two sessions remaining on March 11 and 18. Registration is required, so be sure to follow the steps to join and begin your journey toward a more balanced and fulfilling college experience.