We Believe In…
excellent training
Our group leaders are licensed clinical psychologists and have solid DBT training and years of experience running DBT based skills groups in a variety of settings. Each of our therapists has additional areas of expertise and proficiency working with complex mental health issues including: mood and anxiety disorders, personality disorders, trauma, family systems and difficult interpersonal/attachment dynamics. Our broad level of training and expertise combined with specific DBT training gives us the ability to tailor skills to each client for maximum effectiveness.
HIGH LEVEL LEARNING
Many of our group members tend to agree that they often look "great on paper," but in spite of academic or work success (or the potential for such) have significant struggles managing intense emotions and unfulfilling or chaotic relationships. We love that DBT is evidence based. If you want some of the science behind the skills - essentially not just what to do but why it works - then our groups could be a good fit.
a team approach
We are happy for you to continue to work with your own individual therapist if you already have an established therapy relationship that you feel is working. We have a great respect for the number of talented therapists in Atlanta. We want to honor both the relationship and the work you've done with that person. We regularly consult with group members’ individual therapists in order to provide a true treatment team approach. (We don't require your individual therapist have DBT training, although some knowledge of DBT can be helpful.)
clear boundaries
We make significant efforts to make sure that our role as skill group leaders is clear and explain how that works in conjunction with your individual therapy and other treatment providers. When there are concerns about your work with other providers we help coach you in discussing those issues with those individuals yourself, rather than stepping in for you, which can often create confusion and discrepancies in treatment planning. Clear boundaries helps you know what to expect from us.
carefully crafted groups
We screen each group member with the intention of finding the right personal fit and forming groups that are cohesive, balanced, able to learn the most from one another, and generally healthy in their interpersonal dynamics. It is critical to be able to genuinely connect with the other members of your group and feel like their perspective/advice is helpful and relevant. * In our teen groups we limit the number of students per school and make every effort to ensure there is no overlap in academic classes. We find that teens are more willing to join group when they don't have to worry about a classmate being in the group. Teens also are able to be more honest and open in group with a clear and direct emphasis on confidentiality.
authenticity
Leading DBT groups is a unique experience for therapists - it’s an opportunity to be more personally engaged, at times using personal examples, generate more humor, and be a more equal part of the therapeutic process. We hope that our love of the DBT skills and our personalities come across in every group in order to create a space that feels warm, engaging, safe, and even fun. We often say, “everyone should learn DBT,” in a simplified sense it’s lots of psychology life hacks - and we mean it!