Denver DBT Group Therapy
The “D” in DBT: Acceptance and Change
If chronic or acute stress, emotional fluctuations, and/or reactivity are disrupting your quality of life, our groups can help. With a structured curriculum facilitated by our doctoral-level clinicians, learning alongside others who are doing the work isn’t just cost-effective—it actually provides the specialized support and shared environment ideal for learning the skills to better your life. The group model is part of the gold standard for DBT skill acquisition.
See If Our DBT Groups Are Right for You
The 4 DBT Skills Modules
- Mindfulness: Decrease your judgments of yourself/others while increasing your presence and self-awareness
- Distress Tolerance: Learn how to get through a crisis or challenging situation without making it worse.
- Emotional Regulation: Acquire practical skills that help you understand and experience your feelings in a less overwhelming way.
- Interpersonal Effectiveness: Strengthen both personal and professional relationships by learning to ask for what you need, set healthy boundaries, and gain insight into your relationship patterns.
What to Expect in a DBT Group Session
Mindfulness & Skills Review
Observational Learning, Application & Support
Skill Acquisition & Next Steps
What to Expect in a DBT Group Session
Mindfulness &
Skills Review
Observational Learning, Application & Support
Skill Acquisition & Next Steps
― Dr. Marsha M. Linehan
Doctoral-Level Expertise & Strict Confidentiality
At Denver DBT, we are committed to providing the highest standard of clinical care. To ensure effective skill acquisition, a deep understanding of the material and expert facilitation, every DBT group is led by at least one doctoral-level clinical psychologist.
We are a multifaceted private practice with providers who have received additional specialized training in areas such as: trauma-informed care (including EMDR), depth-oriented (psychodynamic) psychotherapy, borderline personality disorder (BPD), anxiety/OCD, depression,
ADHD and treatment of severe and/or complex presentations. We also work well with clients who don’t have more serious or persistent diagnoses but are wanting to improve their relationships, explore old patterns that might be keeping them stuck, or get more out of life. Because we are not a “comprehensive DBT program” (we do not provide phone coaching), we are able to operate with a highly integrative care model; group participants are welcome to maintain their relationship with an outside individual therapist while completing our group curriculum.
It is completely normal to feel some hesitation before joining a therapy group. Our clinicians will take their time during your intake session making space for any concerns that you might have about joining a DBT group. During your intake call (prior to scheduling your intake session) our intake coordinator is also happy to answer any questions and/or hear your concerns about joining a group (that’s what she’s there for!).
Additionally, we take your confidentiality and absolute privacy very seriously; confidentiality and a culture of mutual respect are foundational to our DBT groups. Each new member commits to abiding by these rules to create a group culture where you can safely share your experiences, practice the skills and receive thoughtful feedback.
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. As compared to other local DBT groups, we have uniquely small groups, 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.