What is DBT?
Summer 2026 Location Update:
While our primary Healgood office undergoes temporary renovations, groups will be held at our Central Southwest Austin location:
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based treatment designed to help individuals better understand and regulate their emotions, set and maintain healthy boundaries, reduce impulsive behaviors, and navigate relationships effectively.
DBT has been extensively researched and is proven to help adolescents and adults struggling with emotional ups and downs, anxiety, depression, self-harm, disordered eating, substance use, and suicidal thoughts. At Healgood, we use DBT to empower teens with practical skills to navigate life's challenges, equipping them for success in school, relationships, and beyond.
The DBT Skills Modules
DBT includes four behavioral skill modules, with two acceptance-oriented skills (mindfulness and distress tolerance) and two change-oriented skills (emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness).
✔️ Mindfulness: Developing awareness of the present moment without judgment
✔️ Distress Tolerance: Managing emotional pain in difficult situations without making impulsive or harmful choices
✔️ Emotion Regulation: Understanding, managing, and changing emotional responses to reduce emotional suffering
✔️ Interpersonal Effectiveness: Learning to communicate needs, set boundaries, and navigate relationships while maintaining self-respect
What Makes Healgood’s DBT Skills Groups Unique?
✔️ Comprehensive DBT Program
Our program follows the evidence-based Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) model developed specifically to help teens build effective coping skills, emotional regulation, and healthier relationships.
✔️ Full DBT Curriculum
Teens move through all core DBT modules over approximately 24 weeks (6 months), including mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and walking the middle path.
✔️ Co-Facilitated by Licensed Clinicians
Following the DBT Group Co-Facilitation Model, each group is led by two licensed clinicians who have received additional trainings in DBT, DBT Skills, and DBT Group Facilitation, allowing for greater support, individualized attention, and a more dynamic learning environment.
✔️ Small Group Size
Groups are intentionally kept small, with a maximum of 8 teens, to foster safety, connection, participation, and individualized support.
✔️ Multi-Family Involvement
Parents and caregivers join once per module to learn skills alongside their teen, strengthen communication, and support skill implementation at home.
✔️ Parent & Caregiver Support
Parents and caregivers have access to a free virtual bi-weekly DBT support and coaching group, along with the option for additional individual parent coaching sessions as needed.
✔️ Real-Life Skills Coaching
Teens have access to phone coaching support to help apply DBT skills in real-time situations outside of group sessions.
✔️ Collaborative, Holistic Care
We regularly coordinate with therapists, psychiatrists, dietitians, schools, and other providers when appropriate to support comprehensive and integrated care.
✔️ Dedicated DBT Consultation Team
Our DBT clinicians participate in ongoing consultation and collaboration to maintain treatment fidelity, clinical effectiveness, and high-quality care for teens and families.
✔️ Ongoing Parent Communication & Resources
Families receive a DBT newsletter once per module with skill summaries, practical tools for reinforcing DBT at home, important updates, and additional psychoeducational resources to support continued growth outside of sessions.
Healgood's DBT Skills Group Workbook — Every group member gets a personal copy.
More About the Group
Our Adolescent DBT Skills Group is a structured, skills-based group designed to help teens learn and apply evidence-based coping strategies. This is not a process group, but rather a didactic group where participants actively build new skills and receive individualized coaching.
First Hour: The group leader reviews DBT Diary Cards with each member, providing coaching, feedback, and observations about how skills are being applied in daily life. Group members benefit not only from their own individual coaching but also from learning how others are practicing skills in real-life situations.
Second Hour: The group focuses on learning new DBT skills using handouts, homework sheets, experiential exercises, board work, and group discussion. Members are encouraged to practice the skill throughout the week and report back on their experiences, successes, and challenges.
All DBT skills build upon each other, so group members must commit to a minimum of 6 months to complete all modules:
✔️ Mindfulness
✔️ Distress Tolerance
✔️ Emotion Regulation
✔️ Interpersonal Effectiveness
Parent/Guardian Integration:
At the end of each module, we hold a Multi-Family Group where parents/guardians join the session to discuss special topics and skills learned, helping families support and coach their teen in using self-management strategies at home.
Group Fees & Enrollment
Weekly Group Fee: $95*
One-Time Materials Fee: $100* — Covers group members’ first copy of the DBT Skills Workbook, group activities, snacks and beverages.
Throughout the year, we have open enrollment periods where new group members can join the group.
Prior to joining, group members will complete the following:
A Free Initial Group Consult | 30 mins | Free — This allows the client and family to ask any questions they may have about the group and begin to explore if they may benefit from the group.
A Holistic, Biopsychosocial Intake Assessment | 90 mins| $225* — This allows for the client and family to relay important treatment goals and background information. This also allows the client and family to build rapport with the group therapist, supporting the client in the transition to group. This assessment also helps ensure goodness-of-fit and that the client will benefit from the group.
Treatment Planning & Orientation Session | 50-min | Typically 1 to 2 sessions are needed | $185* — After the initial intake assessment, your clinician will collaborate with you to develop a treatment plan based upon your goals for the group. This will be reviewed with the client and family. You will then be provided with your DBT Skills Workbook and your clinician will begin to orient you to the group - the detailed group scheduled, what to expect, group rules, how to use the binder, and so on. Your clinician is also happy to answer any questions the client or family may have prior to joining the group. *Sliding Scale Availability: We offer reduced-rate options based on availability of sliding scale spaces and financial need. Learn more: Sliding Scale Policy. Please let us know if you are needing a sliding scale rate and we will be happy to collaborate with you.
PDSES Grant Use Available: Healgood is an authorized Texas Education Agency (TEA) Parent-Directed Special Education Services (PDSES) Provider (formerly Supplemental Special Education Services (SSES) Program). For additional information regarding the PDSES program, please visit the TEA's webpage at: https://tea.texas.gov/academics/special-student-populations/special-education/parent-directed-special-education-services-pdses
Commitment to Group Participation
DBT Skills Training is designed as a comprehensive, cumulative program. Each skills module builds upon the previous one, which is why consistent attendance and participation are essential for meaningful progress.
Group members are asked to commit to a minimum of 24 weeks (approximately 6 months) in order to complete all four DBT skills modules:
Mindfulness
Distress Tolerance
Emotion Regulation
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Research supports that extended participation in DBT skills training leads to greater skill acquisition, integration, and long-term behavioral change.
Withdrawal & Termination Policy
We understand that circumstances can change. If a group member needs to withdraw from the program, we require a four-group written notice prior to termination.
Financial responsibility continues during this four-session period regardless of attendance. This policy allows time to:
Provide clinical closure
Support transition planning
Offer referrals if needed
Maintain group continuity and census stability
This policy is reviewed during the onboarding and consent process so that families can make fully informed decisions prior to enrollment.