Denver Adolescent DBT Group Therapy
Targeted Skills Training to Help Your Teen Navigate Their Internal & External Worlds
Expert Clinical Support & Peer Connection to Create Positive Change
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is built on the premise of balance: accepting your teen as they are today, while equipping them with the practical skills needed to change unhelpful or harmful behaviors. In our adolescent groups, we foster authentic peer connection while teaching empirically validated DBT skills.
Facilitated by our doctoral-level clinicians and clinical psychologists, we work to create a welcoming space where teens can share openly—providing clinical support while appropriately challenging them to put new skills into practice. In this developmentally attuned, supportive group environment, they can learn practical tools for emotion regulation alongside peers with similar goals, helping them navigate this pivotal developmental stage with greater resilience and self-understanding.
Find the Right Support for Your Child
Reach out today to speak with Carrie Simpson, M.A., our intake coordinator, and learn more about how our adolescent DBT groups can equip your teen with practical, evidence-based tools for increased emotional resilience and well-being.
Support for the Whole Family
Research consistently demonstrates that adolescents who have supportive and involved families experience greater success with DBT skill integration. This is why our program is designed to not only treat teenagers, but to partner collaboratively with parents/caregivers to support your teen’s growth and mental health.
We offer options to schedule additional family sessions and/or parent coaching sessions. Your teen’s group leaders will keep you apprised of the material covered each week and is available to provide guidance on fostering an encouraging, understanding home environment that supports their growth and change.
Our Adolescent Group Includes:
- Weekly 80-Minute Skills Training: Focused on the four modules of DBT: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
- Parent Communication: The middle and older teen groups receive weekly email updates to inform family members about the specific skills taught in group that week. The younger teen group has a parent check-in time at the end of each group for in-person guidance and updates related to skill integration.
- Family Support Options: Personalized family DBT sessions and/or parent coaching sessions may be scheduled as needed to support your teen’s integration of skills (available for an additional fee).
What to Expect in a DBT Group Session
Mindfulness &
Skills Review
Learn a compassionate, step-by-step sequence to identify, name, and normalize survival responses. This beautifully shifts the client from self-judgment to understanding, creating a space where deep healing and connection can happen.
Observational Learning, Application & Support
Observing and discussing how other group members actively apply DBT skills to real-world scenarios provides both valuable modeling and helps our members feel less alone in their struggles. Our group settings are intentionally facilitated to help members expand their understanding of the skills in an empathetic, supportive environment.
Skill Acquisition & Next Steps
During the instructional portion of the group, a new DBT skill is taught each week. The material is presented in a way that is both accessible and encourages an in-depth understanding of the skill. Our clinicians encourage engagement with the material and provide ample time for questions. By the end of each group, you will have a new DBT skill to practice over the course of the next week and specific instructions for how to either deepen your understanding of the concept being taught and/or implement the skill into your daily life.
What to Expect in a DBT Group Session
Mindfulness & Skills Review
Learn a compassionate, step-by-step sequence to identify, name, and normalize survival responses. This beautifully shifts the client from self-judgment to understanding, creating a space where deep healing and connection can happen.
Observational Learning, Application & Support
Observing and discussing how other group members actively apply DBT skills to real-world scenarios provides both valuable modeling and helps our members feel less alone in their struggles. Our group settings are intentionally facilitated to help members expand their understanding of the skills in an empathetic, supportive environment.
Skill Acquisition & Next Steps
During the instructional portion of the group, a new DBT skill is taught each week. The material is presented in a way that is both accessible and encourages an in-depth understanding of the skill. Our clinicians encourage engagement with the material and provide ample time for questions. By the end of each group, you will have a new DBT skill to practice over the course of the next week and specific instructions for how to either deepen your understanding of the concept being taught and/or implement the skill into your daily life.
“Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
― Dr. Viktor E. Frankl
Doctoral-Level Expertise & Developmentally Appropriate Care
Every adolescent DBT group is led by a doctoral-level clinician or clinical psychologist who understands that your teen has likely been sitting in a classroom all day. That is why we don’t just lecture. Instead, we take a collaborative approach that honors your teen’s voice and autonomy. We thoughtfully create a supportive space where teens can share openly, receive direct feedback, and practice the tools they need to thrive in their relationships with others—and with themselves.
We also recognize that a teenager’s chronological age does not always match their developmental age, so we don’t use rigid placement systems. Our initial phone screening with parents/caregivers, followed by a thoughtful intake process typically involving both you and your teen, ensures they are placed in the most appropriate group (early, middle, or late adolescence); we will do our best to find a group where they will feel comfortable, supported, and able to thrive.
FAQs:
What is DBT?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based approach focused on teaching highly practical life skills. It is built on the concept of “dialectics”—the ability to hold two seemingly opposite truths at the same time. In our groups, this means we accept you exactly as you are today, while simultaneously giving you the tools to make the meaningful changes you want for your future.
Who benefits most from DBT groups?
While initially developed for and widely considered the premier intervention for borderline personality disorder (BPD), it is also highly effective for individuals managing anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, trauma, impulsivity, relationship problems, anger issues, eating disorders and ADHD. Ultimately, it is designed for anyone (from professionals managing high-stress environments to parents looking for support or individuals navigating life changes) who requires structured tools to improve emotion regulation and reduce reactivity. We welcome a variety of individuals to our groups and find that the clients who benefit the most show up regularly ready to engage with the material and wanting to learn/grow.
Is group DBT therapy effective?
Highly. Decades of research show that DBT is incredibly effective for teaching emotional regulation. Because it accelerates learning through peer support, shared experiences, and real-time practice, the group format is the clinical gold standard for mastering these skills. Most clients achieve the best outcomes by completing the full 45-week curriculum, with some choosing to repeat modules to solidify and deepen their mastery of the skills as well as their cognitive, behavioral and interpersonal changes.
Will I have to share personal information with the group?
You maintain complete control over your level of personal disclosure. Because this is a structured skills-training environment rather than a traditional “process” group, the clinical focus is on learning and applying new tools, not processing historical trauma. While active participation is encouraged for optimal learning and group cohesion, there will never be pressure to share about anything personal that is beyond your comfort zone
How large are the groups?
When choosing a DBT group/program, group size is very important. Many DBT practices facilitate groups that allow 10 to 15 members. We intentionally keep our groups small, capping them at a maximum of 8 participants. This ensures that you will get the individual attention/feedback that you deserve; it also fosters more connection between the members.
How frequently do the groups meet?
Our DBT groups meet once a week for 90 minutes. We find this steady rhythm gives us enough time to dive deeply into new concepts together each week while giving you adequate time to apply each skill to daily life. We do maintain a consistent schedule year-round, with occasional planned breaks to observe major holidays.