Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Adult Skills Groups

We have two groups being led by:

• Rena Semertzidis, LMSW
• Holly Alderman, LCSW

Join our virtual DBT Adult Skills Group to master the complete DBT skill set including mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and middle path skills. Similar to a class, active participation and weekly homework (ungraded) are expected.

Participate to enhance attention, regulate emotions, improve relationships, set goals, and lead a meaningful life. Access DBT orientation materials and skills handouts in PDF. Sessions include DBT model orientation, weekly commitment emphasis, mindfulness practice, homework review, and new skill introduction.

Single Mothers By Choice

• Danielle Esposito, LCSW

Danielle has 14 years of experience working with adults, adolescents, children, families, and couples. She possesses extensive knowledge in parenting, co-parenting, and child development. She has a particular interest in supporting single mothers by choice (SMC). She has guided others throughout the process including considering the choice, navigating fertility treatments, experiencing pregnancy, postpartum support, and child-rearing at all stages.

Group sessions will offer a safe, nonjudgmental therapeutic environment for women who have entered motherhood intentionally on their own. Danielle will facilitate group discussions and help others articulate and share what led them to their decision to become an SMC. Other topics will include the difficulties of navigating the process, coping with the opinions and judgments of others, as well as the strengths and benefits of this extraordinary choice. Members will learn strategies for child-rearing, self-care, self-exploration, skills for managing the intense emotions involved in parenthood, and ways to navigate any questions their future little ones might have.

Parenting Solo – Single Parents Group

• Danielle Esposito, LMSW

Danielle Esposito LCSW will be leading a therapeutic, 60 minute support group for parents who are doing it solo. This group is best for parents who were not intending to be parenting alone, and will meet for 8 weeks on Mondays (time TBD).

Not everyone expects to be single parents. Doing so requires managing your emotions and those of your children, daily decision making, housework, finances, scheduling, and somehow finding time for your own personal growth and leisure activities. Some single parents are also dealing with the expectations and logistical disagreements arising from co-parenting. Since perfection is never possible, many experience guilt and feelings of inadequacy even after giving their all to this juggling act.

DBT Skills for Parents Group

• Holly Alderman, LCSW

Holly Alderman LCSW will lead a 60 minute group for parents of children of all ages who are struggling with or simply wish to have a more organized response to the tribulations of parenthood. Holly will teach highly effective and tangible DBT focused skills that can be applied to parenting at any stage and with any child. With parents’ busy schedules in mind, this group is offered as a virtual lunch hour. Holly will facilitate participants’ mastery of DBT Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Interpersonal Effectiveness and Emotion Regulation Skills.

The classic DBT skills will be tailored to applications in parenting – how to manage distress, regulate emotions and communicate effectively in the child-parent relationship and if relevant, the co-parenting relationship. 6 weekly sessions include skill acquisition, group discussion/processing and exercises to practice skills using the DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets.

Electronic Screen Overuse

• Shira Lee Silver LCSW
• Jared Sossin LMHC Candidate in Training

Have you ever wondered if technology decreases your focus or prevents you from fully immersing and enjoying life? When was the last time you felt completely unplugged? Been away on vacation unencumbered by your connections at home, easily accessed through email, social, or text? If so, you are not alone. This year, there was a movement, “flip phone February,” compelling many to give up their smartphones for a month. Many who participated found their conversations more animated and engaging and witnessed an improvement in their productivity. This begs the question, how do we produce these positive changes in a more enduring way?

For those who want a better relationship with the electronic screens in their life (smartphones, tablets, TVs, etc), Shira Lee Silver and Jared Sossin will lead an evidence-based virtual group (60 mins. sessions), once a week for 8-weeks. For over a decade, Shira Lee has been working with people who suffer from anxiety, depression, grief and trauma. Jared has several years of experience teaching meditation and focuses his Master’s level research on technology’s impact on mental health.

Whether your challenge is social media, video games, work emails, or binge-watching, as a group, we’ll help each other answer the questions: How do I stay more grounded and present? What’s getting in the way? What do I want to pay attention to? How do I live with technology in a healthier way? We’d love to help you find the right balance for your unique situation.

One of the key focuses will be the impact of technology on mental health. We’ll learn practical ways of assessing your current electronic screen relationships, preparing for your desired changes, and carrying out and sustaining those changes. We’ll also learn some of the science behind addictive technology. As a group, we’ll hold each other accountable to our respective goals, celebrate our progress, and offer validation and encouragement when we slip.

Click here to take the Electronic Screen Compulsion Test to see if this group is relevant to you.

Group members will be 21 years old and above.