Life as a teenager is a lot. Between school stress, friendships, family pressure, and everything else pulling at your attention, it can feel like you’re constantly just trying to keep your head above water. This group gives you a real, practical toolkit for navigating all of it — in a space where you don’t have to explain yourself, because the people around you already get it.

We know a lot of teen programs feel like an extra hour of school — worksheets, lectures, and therapy-speak. This group is different. While we absolutely teach skills (and they actually work), we believe that peer connection is the heartbeat of healing. The most powerful part of this group isn’t just what you learn — it’s who you learn alongside. Teens in Campbell and across the South Bay come here to build real connections with peers walking a similar path, share honestly, and grow together.

What You’ll Learn

Our group is built around four core DBT skill areas that show up in everyday life:

• Mindfulness — How to slow down, notice what’s happening inside you, and stay present instead of getting swept away by anxious thoughts or overwhelming feelings.
• Distress Tolerance — Tools for getting through really hard moments without making things worse. Because sometimes you just need to survive the next hour.
• Emotion Regulation — Ways to understand your moods, reduce emotional intensity, and feel more in control of how you respond — instead of your feelings running the show.
• Interpersonal Effectiveness — Skills for building stronger, healthier relationships: asking for what you need, setting limits, and navigating conflict without losing yourself or the relationship.

How Each Session Works

Every session follows a consistent three-part flow, so you always know what to expect:

Mindfulness & Grounding — We start by checking in with where you’re at. Using short exercises like paced breathing or a five-senses scan, we help you transition out of the chaos of the school day and into the present moment. No pretending you’re fine. We meet you where you are.

Skill of the Week — We introduce one DBT tool with a focus on how to actually use it in your life. For example, instead of just talking about “interpersonal effectiveness,” you practice DEAR MAN — a concrete approach for asking for what you need (say, a deadline extension) or saying no to peer pressure without drowning in guilt afterward.

Peer Connection & Shared Support — This is where most of our time goes. This is your open space to share what’s really going on, apply new skills to real situations, and hear from peers who are going through something similar. You’re not alone in this — and being here will remind you of that.

Confidentiality & Safety

What gets shared in group stays in group. Confidentiality is something we take seriously, and every member agrees to keep what they hear here private. This is what makes it possible to be real with each other.

This group is designed for teens who are doing outpatient-level work — meaning you’re managing daily life and looking for extra support and skill-building, not in crisis. Our facilitator, Melissa Daoud, is a licensed therapist trained in DBT and adolescent mental health. If something comes up in group that needs more support — for you or a peer — Melissa is equipped to handle it with care and connect you to the right resources.