150 East 58th Street, Fifth Floor Annex, New York, NY 10155 | (212) 308-2440

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Group Therapy

What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a treatment developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan.  DBT is especially helpful for individuals who have difficulty regulating or dealing with their emotions. Focused on validating the difficulties of life’s struggles, the apparent difficulty with conflicting and intense emotions, and the desire to make important changes, DBT is a highly practical and direct form of therapy. Rather than only focusing on overcoming misery, DBT also emphasizes working on creating a life you want to live. DBT integrates cognitive behavior therapy with teachings in mindfulness and acceptance. Skills training teaches specific lessons in mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness in order to help you learn to be fully in the moment,  effectively manage emotions, cope with crises without making them worse, and meet your objectives in relationships. Many people who feel stuck in therapy or have pursued many treatments with minimal benefits find DBT to be remarkably helpful.  DBT clinicians are committed to being available to you and pursuing ongoing consultation to provide you with a high level of care.

Adult DBT Skills Group

The DBT skills training group takes approximately 4 months to complete. In some cases, clients elect to stay in group longer to increase their mastery of skill use. New group members enter into the group at the beginning of each new module, which is typically every 4-5 weeks. Modules include the following skill topics:

 

  1. Mindfulness – A “core” DBT skill, mindfulness involves paying attention, in the moment, non- judgmentally to live your life in a deliberate manner.
  2. Emotion Regulation – Learn the function of emotions and improve your ability to describe, change, and cope effectively, rather than let emotions control you.
  3. Distress Tolerance – Manage crises without making your problems worse.
  4. Interpersonal Effectiveness – Attend to your needs and improve relationships.

Who: Adults ages 30+

When: Wednesday evenings, 7:00-8:30 PM (90 minutes)

Where: Secure, HIPAA-compliant Zoom platform

Leaders: Kathleen Taylor, Ph.D. and Danielle Honigstein Kasturi, LMSW

Taylort
Danielle

To join our DBT skills group, you must:

  • Be a New York or Connecticut resident
  • Be currently working, in school, or volunteering
  • Have your own individual therapist (minimum once weekly) – we can provide one if needed
  • Complete a 45-minute intake consultation to assess clinical appropriateness
  • Commit to attending sessions for the duration of one complete module

2026 DBT Schedule

The enrollment period for the Emotional Regulation Skills Module is open now. Last day to enroll is 4/7/26. 

Core Mindfulness Skills
June 17 – Group Orientation, Three States of Mind
June 24 – What and How Skills

Distress Tolerance Skills
July 1 – No Group Meeting
July 8 – Crisis Survival Skills: STOP and Pros & Cons
July 15 – Crisis Survival Skills: TIP and Wise Mind ACCEPTS
July 22 – Crisis Survival Skills: Self-Soothe and IMPROVE
July 29 – RA: Radical Acceptance, Turning the Mind
August 5 – RA Skills: Willingness, Half-smile and Willing Hands
August 12 – RA: Mindfulness of Current Thoughts; Addiction Skills

Core Mindfulness Skills
August 19 – Group Orientation, Three States of Mind
August 26 – What and How Skills

Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills
September 2 – Understanding Your Goals in Interpersonal Situations
September 9 – Obtaining objectives skillfully: DEARMAN
September 16 – When relationships matter: DEARMAN GIVE
September 23 – When your values matter: DEARMAN FAST
September 30 – Building and Ending Relationships
October 7 – Walking the Middle Path: Dialectics and Validation
October 14 – Changing the Behavior of Others

Core Mindfulness Skills
October 21 – Group Orientation, Three States of Mind
October 28 – What and How Skills

Emotion Regulation Skills
November 4 – Goals; Understanding and Naming Emotions
November 11 – Changing emotional responses: Check the Facts
November 18 – Changing emotional responses: Opposite Action
November 25 – Changing emotional responses: Problem-Solving
December 2 – Reducing vulnerability: Accumulate Positive Emotions
December 9 – Reducing vulnerability: Build Mastery and Cope Ahead
December 16 – Reducing vulnerability: PLEASE Skills

FAQs

Can I start mid-cycle or do I need to wait for a new module? You can join at the beginning of any module during the 2-week mindfulness introduction period. This ensures you get the foundational skills before moving into module-specific content.

What if I’ve never done DBT before? No prior DBT experience is required. Our program is designed for beginners and includes thorough skill introduction and practice.

What happens if I miss sessions? You’re financially responsible for all sessions in your enrolled module regardless of attendance. We’ll provide handouts for missed sessions to help you stay current.

How long do I need to stay in the group? You’re committed to one complete module (8-11 weeks). Many people choose to complete all three modules twice for optimal skill mastery, which takes approximately one year. 

Call (212) 308-2440 for more information or to enroll today!