Page Title

Groups

GROUPS

Parent/Family Members DBT Skills Training Groups

Pat facilitates a 12 session, bi-monthly DBT Skills Training Group for parents and family
members of individuals with emotion dysregulation or mental illness. The structured format of
these groups allows a great deal of learning to take place.

These groups cover many skills that were designed originally by Marsha Linehan for
individuals with disorders of Emotion Dysregulation. The skills are applicable to everyone and
are taught, in these groups, specifically tailored to parents and family members of individuals
suffering with any kind of mental illness or emotion dysregulation. The groups are exclusively
for parents and family members and stress the learning of skills, rather than “processing and
sharing”. Change takes place by learning these skills in a nonjudgmental and accepting
environment.

Group participants are introduced to 5 modules of specific skills (Mindfulness, Walking the
Middle Path, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation and Interpersonal Effectiveness).
Parents have reported finding these skills helpful in learning how to manage, communicate
and relate to their children (of any age). Parents and family members also report that they
find the skills helpful in their own lives as well. Though real change is the responsibility of the
“child”, the skills do help parents to interact with their child in ways that decrease
emotionality, and increase effective communication and enable a calmer homelife.

One of the reasons this group requires a commitment to all the 12 sessions. is that the
emphasis is on learning skills and each session builds on the ones before it. The information
and skills learned in the group become clearer with each passing session and with the practice
and homework that participants do over time. In addition, since the same group of people
learn together, the group becomes supportive and an effective learning environment is
developed.

Participants are asked to bring a 3 ring binder for the outline and handouts that are
distributed at every group. If someone does miss a group, the materials are sent to the
participant through e-mail. Each group session begins with a review of the skills learned the
previous session and with a discussion of the homework and practice that is done be each
participant. Then new skills are taught for the remainder of the session.

The groups take place in Rockville. Groups meet in the evening from 7:15-9:15 with the door
opening about 15 minutes before the start of the group. The groups meet on the same day of
the week (usually Wednesday or Monday) twice a month for a total of 12 sessions.

Participants can attend alone or as a couple. The next group will begin in the Fall, 2008. You
can put your name on the waiting list and you will be notified two months prior to the start of
the group. At that time, you will be expected to send in a two session nonrefundable fee to
ensure your spot in the group. Space is limited.

IN THE WORDS OF ONE GROUP PARTICIPANT:

The classes provided us many new tools to communicate and connect with our consumer
son. One of the main objectives of the course is to enable participants to reduce or avoid
conflict in relationships and thus enable more productive communications. Also we find we
can apply the same tools and techniques to other relationship in our lives. There is some
homework, though not enough to be a time burden for most people. Tho not required at all,
I would recommend couples take it together when possible. That way you will both be on the
same level and be able to talk more easily about and experiment with the concepts in
between classes – not to mention help each other with homework. You have a “sounding
board.”

Pat is an excellent teacher with consummate command of her material. She will both lead the
class and also follow when productive work is going on. Finally, the class brought together a
group of people with similar experiences and problems which was a continual source of
inspiration, information, anxiety relief, creative ideas, and most of all, friendship.

FEES

For an individual: $30 per session ($360 for the whole group)
For a couple: $50 per session ($600 for the group).
If this payment schedule is prohibitive, please discuss this with Pat.

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Adolescent and Young Adult Sibling Groups

Pat facilitates groups for the “healthier” siblings of children, adolescents and young adults
who have serious emotion dysregulation. In an accepting environment, with individuals who
have also experienced the chaos and confusion of a home with a seriously emotionally
disturbed individual, these young people are able to share their experiences as well as learn
some of the skills and strategies to help them navigate these difficult situations. In addition,
the participants learn to be accepting and nonjudgmental of their sibling while also learning
to see the illness their sibling suffers from in new and different ways. They leave the group
feeling stronger and more accepting of themselves as well as their sibling.

These groups are 3 sessions and are scheduled on an as-needed basis.

If you are interested in taking part in this group, contact Pat.

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GRADUATE DBT GROUPS

Pat facilitates a 4 session "Graduate Group" for individuals who have already participated in a
Parents/Family Members DBT Skills Training Group. This group provides an opportunity to
further develop and practice skills already learned - such as validation, Opposite Emotion and
Distress Tolerance. Group members will also be introduced to the tool of Chain Analysis as a
way to understand the context in which behaviors occur and the consequences of those
behaviors. Participants actively facilitate mindfulness exercises and role playing.

If you are interested in participating, contact Pat.