Adapted-Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (ADBT)
🧠 Find Balance, Build Skills, Feel Stronger
🧘♂️ A therapeutic group grounded in skill-building.
Adapted Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (ADBT) is a 27-week educational group for adults with autism and/or intellectual disabilities who want to gain control over their emotional world and improve how they relate to others.
Through a structured curriculum, participants will explore mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness—all taught using clear instruction, real-world practice, and compassionate coaching.
What You’ll Learn:
✅ Mindfulness: How to be present and aware in the moment
✅ Emotional Regulation: Strategies to manage strong feelings
✅ Distress Tolerance: Coping skills for tough or painful situations
✅ Interpersonal Effectiveness: How to set boundaries and ask for what you need
✅ Self-soothing strategies and safety tools: How to replace harmful behaviours with healthy coping skills
Who Should Join?
🧑 Adults with autism or intellectual disabilities
🔥 Struggling with intense emotions like anger, jealousy, or sadness
💬 Looking for safer ways to express themselves and build relationships
🧘♀️ Ready to build coping tools for distress or emotional pain
Why Join?
🛠️ Build practical skills to reduce emotional distress
🧠 Improve coping, communication, and boundary-setting
🌈 Increase self-esteem and overall well-being
🤝 Strengthen relationships with family, friends, and support staff
🌟 Gain clarity, calm, and confidence in everyday situations
🌱 Empowerment through structure, practice, and support.
Program Details
🗓️ Client Sessions: Week of September 28, 2026 to April 19, 2027.
⏰ Schedule: Weekly (Day & Time TBD)
📍 Location: 900 Hopkins St. Unit 8, Whitby, ON. L1N 6A9
💰 Cost: FREE with DSO Referral
Registration through the DSO
For DSO-eligible clients residing in the Durham Region make a referral through Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) at 1-855-277-2121.
Register by September 21, 2026
Fee: FREE
Due to capacity limits, making a referral through the DSO does not guarantee a spot until Lake Ridge has confirmed your registration.
Fee Based Registration
For non-DSO eligible clients or those residing outside of the Durham Region, a group fee applies. Book a call with the Service Navigator here.
Register by September 14, 2026.
Fee: $TBD
Contact Natalie Driscoll for more information: Call 343-227-6822 or email adultgroups@lrcss.com
Eligibility
Participants must be 18 years and older with intellectual/developmental disabilities (ID) or a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Individual Skill Requirements
Joint attention skills • Discrimination skills • Echoic skills • Motor imitation skills • Ability to follow common 1-step instructions • Participate in session with limited caregiver assistance • Safety concerns and challenging behaviour are low and/or caregivers are able to safely manage any challenging behaviour.
Stay in the know
Join our email list or follow us on social media to be notified of upcoming groups.