Being a teenager is a lot. Between school pressure, social dynamics, family tension, and figuring out who you are, it can feel like your emotions are running the show. This group gives you a structured way to take back the wheel, with real skills you can actually use in your everyday life.

This is a skills-based training class, not a traditional talk therapy group. Over 24 weeks, the standard clinical timeframe required to complete the full Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) curriculum, you’ll build a concrete toolkit for handling whatever comes your way. Teens in Campbell and across the South Bay come to this group to learn how to manage big emotions, navigate relationships, and feel more in control.

Is a DBT Skills Group Right for Your Teen?

Is your teen overwhelmed by intense, unpredictable emotions? You might notice them exploding when frustrated, acting impulsively, or constantly clashing with family and friends. If they are also using self-destructive habits like self-harm, talking about suicide, or abusing substances, they do not have to struggle alone.

Our DBT Skills Group specifically helps high school-aged teens manage:

• Intense Emotions: Severe anxiety, depression, and rapid mood swings.
• Impulsive Behaviors: Explosive outbursts and risky decision-making.
• Relationship Conflicts: Frequent strain with family members, teachers, and peers.
• Self-Destructive Coping: Harmful behaviors used to escape emotional pain.

What You’ll Learn

The group covers four core DBT skill areas, each one practical and directly applicable to your daily life:

• Mindfulness — Learn to stay present and tune into what you’re actually feeling, rather than getting swept away by anxious thoughts or overwhelming emotions.
• Distress Tolerance — Build “crisis survival” skills for getting through painful moments without making things worse. Because sometimes the goal is just to make it through the school day.
• Emotion Regulation — Understand why your emotions show up the way they do, and learn how to turn down the intensity before things spiral.
• Interpersonal Effectiveness — Learn how to ask for what you need, say no to things that aren’t right for you, and navigate friendships, family, and peer pressure without losing yourself.

How Each Session Works

Each 90-minute session follows a consistent four-part structure, so you always know what to expect:

Mindfulness Practice — Every session opens with an experiential mindfulness exercise. This is the foundation everything else in DBT is built on.

Diary Card Review — Between sessions, you’ll track your emotions, behaviors, and skill use on a daily diary card. Group opens with a brief review of these cards so your therapist can see what’s actually happening in your week.

Homework & Check-In — Next, the group discusses homework from the previous session. What did you try? What worked? What got in the way? Real practice, real feedback.

Skill Introduction — Your therapist introduces a new skill with a focus on practical application and in-session practice, so you leave each week with something you can actually use at school, at home, or with friends.

Monthly Parent Check-Ins

Parents play an important role in supporting their teen’s growth. Each month, your facilitator schedules a check-in with parents to share general themes from the group, discuss how skills are landing at home, and answer any questions. These check-ins are collaborative and strengths-focused. Your teen’s individual disclosures remain confidential.

The Commitment

DBT is a comprehensive system, and it works best when you move through the full curriculum together. That’s why participants commit to one complete 24-week cycle. New members can join at any point in the rotation, but you’ll complete a full cycle from wherever you start.

The 24-week structure is intentional. It’s the clinical standard for mastering DBT. Each module builds on the last, and the group dynamic that develops over time is part of what makes the skills actually stick.

Between Sessions

Support doesn’t stop when group ends. Between sessions, your therapist is available for brief skills coaching to help you apply what you’re learning to real situations as they come up. This is practical, in-the-moment support for putting your new tools to work.

Confidentiality & Safety

What gets shared in group stays in group. Every member agrees to confidentiality, and that agreement is what makes it possible to be honest with each other.

This group is designed for teens doing outpatient-level work, meaning you’re managing school and daily life and looking to build skills. Teens from the same school will not be placed in the same group. Our facilitator is a licensed therapist trained in DBT, and if something comes up during the group that needs additional support, they are equipped to respond thoughtfully and connect you to the right resources.