Parents DBT Skills Group

A unique skills training program delivered by the Family Care Centre

What is the Parents DBT Skills Group?

A unique 9-week skills training program for parents/guardians delivered by the Family Care Centre. Being a parent can be both wonderful and challenging! Being a parent involves huge responsibility, and it can easily become overwhelming. Learning how to be skillful and communicate effectively with your child are very important skills to have. That’s why, at Edgar Psychological, we are pleased to announce our Parents DBT Skills Group to run alongside our Children and Teen Skills Groups to support you in supporting your child. This group is open to parents and guardians of children and teens who have completed or are currently completing the Children’s or Teens DBT Skills Groups.

Candid conversations about the challenges of parenting are rare particularly when a parent or child is struggling. That’s where our Parents DBT Skills Group can help. Research shows that parent groups provide the opportunity to learn and practice effective parenting skills, promote an increased sense of empowerment for both child and parent(s), and instil a feeling of belonging. Moreover, parenting support groups can be helpful for parents whose children are coping with borderline personality disorder traits, anxiety, depression or other mental health issues.

The group offers parents and guardians strategies and skills in the following areas:

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is being aware of what is happening in the present moment, without judgment or overthinking. When we are mindful, we are better able to focus our attention, feel more in control, and notice and appreciate positive experiences. Parenting is a difficult job in and of itself and lack of mindfulness can lead to unskillful behaviours or reinforcement of problem behaviours.

Distress Tolerance

Two types of skills will be taught in this module. Crisis survival skills can help you to tolerate painful or uncomfortable emotions without making situations worse. Parents are humans, and sometimes strong emotions can lead to urges that can make things worse. These skills are designed to help parents learn how to “ride the wave” towards more ideal outcomes. Practical strategies to reduce emotional outbursts and to keep your cool when your child is upset will be taught. Reality acceptance skills can help you work on accepting things that cannot be changed in order to reduce suffering.

Emotion regulation 

Some people experience emotions as overly intense and out of control, and struggle to bring them down to a tolerable and manageable level. This module includes skills that can help parents recognize and understand their own emotions, reduce vulnerability to intense emotions, and change how you respond to emotions so they don’t become overwhelming and/or cause you to engage in behaviours that make things worse. Attention will be paid to keeping your emotional temperature within the "cool" range so that you can parent effectively. Concrete strategies in order to do so will be taught and practiced both in group and between groups.

Interpersonal effectiveness 

Skills from this module are designed to help parents assert themselves with their children (and others) in ways that enable you to get your needs met, while at the same time maintaining your relationships, personal integrity, and self-respect. Attention will be paid to effectiveness in communication - between parents and between parent and child. This skill will be practiced within the group and between groups.

What is the group format?

Featured
Charlene Frank
Charlene Frank

M.S.W., Registered Clinical Social Worker, Not accepting new clients

The Emotion Regulation Skills Group is a closed group consisting of 10 participants. It runs for 9 weeks, each session 2 hours in length, and will be facilitated by Registered Clinical Social Worker, Charlene Frank.

What does the group cost?

The total cost for the group is $1560.00 per person, which includes a deposit of $30.00, as well as 9 two-hour sessions and all other group materials including a workbook that will be yours to keep. Fees may be paid in full at the start of the group or in weekly instalments of $170 per 2 hour session.

The fee for this group may be covered in whole or part by your private health insurance/employee benefits plan. Please note that obtaining reimbursement from an insurance company is the responsibility of each client. You are encouraged to contact your insurance provider directly for details of your coverage, to verify that group therapy services will be covered by your policy, and any conditions of this coverage.

What if I need to miss a group?  

Because so much information is covered in each group session, regular and consistent attendance is strongly recommended. You may still participate in the DBT Skills Group even if you know you will be absent for one or more sessions. Please note that the full fee for the group will still apply in such cases.

How do I sign up?

Call us at 780-860-7338 or contact us to learn more about this group. If you'd like to join the waitlist to be notified when this group starts again, let us know.

In Case of Emergency

Group facilitators will not be available to provide crisis support in between group sessions. In the event of an emergency or crisis, please call 911, go to your nearest hospital emergency room, or contact one of the following 24/7 crisis support services: