DBT Skills for Teens and Caregivers: Learning to Stay Calm, Connected, and Confident
Build skills for managing big emotions—together.
Build skills for managing big emotions—together.
Is your teen struggling to handle strong feelings or tough moments? Do arguments at home feel like they spiral fast, or do you wish you had better tools to help them calm down and cope?
Our DBT-Informed Skills Group helps teens and their caregivers learn how to understand emotions, communicate more clearly, and get through stressful times with more confidence and care. You’ll build shared tools, language, and strategies—together.
Who This Group Helps:
ou might be a good fit if your teen or family is experiencing:
Big emotions that feel hard to manage
Trouble handling stress, anger, or frustration
Conflicts at home that leave everyone feeling drained
Impulsive or risky behaviours (like self-harm or outbursts)
A desire to understand each other and communicate better
This group is a skills-based program, not therapy. It’s perfect for families looking to build emotional and communication tools that can make daily life smoother and more connected.
Who Can Join:
Teens aged 12–18 and 1–2 caregivers per teen
Families ready to attend and participate together each week
Teens who want to understand emotions and learn coping skills
Caregivers who want to learn how to stay calm and co-regulate with their teen
This group is not a fit for:
Teens or caregivers who can’t attend every session
Families seeking full DBT treatment or in active crisis
Teens without caregiver participation
The DBT Skills Group for Teens and Caregivers can help your family go from feeling reactive and disconnected to calm, confident, and equipped with shared tools to manage emotions and communicate with understanding.
The DBT Skills Group for Teens and Caregivers can help your family go from feeling reactive and disconnected to calm, confident, and equipped with shared tools to manage emotions and communicate with understanding.
What Happens in Group:
Each session includes:
✅ A mindfulness or grounding activity to start
✅ A check-in and reflection on home practice
✅ A short teaching segment about coping or communication skills
✅ Hands-on practice through role plays, activities, and discussion
✅ A closing reflection and take-home skill to try during the week
Each week builds on the last, creating a shared toolkit for both teens and caregivers.
Group Details:
Format: Closed cohort (same members each week)
Duration: 8 weeks (90 minutes per session, includes a 10-minute break)
Group Size: 4–6 teens and their caregivers (max 12 participants)
- Facilitators: Two experienced therapists trained in DBT and family systems
What You’ll Learn (Weekly Themes):
Weeks 1–2: Introduction to DBT, Mindfulness and Wise Mind
Learn what DBT is, how it helps, and how to use mindfulness to stay calm and present.
Weeks 3–4: Emotional Regulation and Validation
Understand how emotions work, what triggers them, and how to manage them without feeling out of control.
Weeks 5–6: Distress Tolerance and Radical Acceptance
Build skills to handle hard moments and big feelings—without making things worse.
Weeks 7–8: Interpersonal Effectiveness and Walking the Middle Path
Learn practical communication tools to ask for what you need, set boundaries, strengthen and repair relationships.
By the End of the Group, You and Your Teen Will:
🌱 Understand Each Other Better
Learn a shared language to talk about emotions and stress without blame or frustration.
💬 Communicate More Effectively
Gain practical tools for conflict, problem-solving, and expressing needs.
💪 Cope With Big Feelings
Build emotional regulation and distress tolerance skills that create more choice and calm.
❤️ Feel More Connected
Caregivers and teens practice co-regulation and validation—helping both feel supported, seen, and capable.
Ready to Learn, Grow, and Connect Together?
You don’t have to handle emotional ups and downs alone. With the right skills, your family can find more calm, balance, and connection.
Group starts Saturday February 7, 2026
Not sure if group will work for you right now?
We continue to offer individual child, youth and parent counselling. Get in touch to discuss what services will best meet your needs.
