DBT Skills Training Group: Learn Practical Skills to Manage Emotions, Stress, and Relationships

The Cognitive and Interpersonal Therapy Centre (CITC) is offering an 8-week Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Skills Group designed to help adults develop practical tools for managing intense emotions, improving relationships, and coping with stress more effectively.

Group Details

Who is the DBT group for: Adults (25+) experiencing emotional dysregulation, anxiety, stress, overthinking, impulsive coping behaviours, or relationship difficulties.

Start date: Monday May 4th at 6pm

Duration: 8 weeks, one 90 minute session per week

Session dates: May 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th, June 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd

Format: Virtual

Group size: Maximum 8 participants

Facilitator: Tisha Misquita, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Co-Facilitator: Aarti Gupta, M.Psy., Doctoral Intern

Cost: $100 per session

This program is psychoeducational and skills-focused, meaning the emphasis is on learning and practicing coping skills rather than processing past experiences in depth.

What is DBT?

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based therapy that teaches practical strategies for managing difficult emotions, tolerating distress, and improving relationships.

The central idea behind DBT is that acceptance and change can happen at the same time. Participants learn to understand their emotional responses while also developing new ways to respond when emotions feel overwhelming.

DBT focuses on answering a common question many people ask in therapy: “What do I do when my emotions take over?”

Learn Mindfulness Tools

Mindfulness helps you learn how to slow down and notice what is happening in the present moment without judging it. Instead of getting pulled into worries about the past or future, you practice observing your thoughts, emotions, and experiences with curiosity and awareness. This skill helps you feel more grounded and intentional in how you respond to life.

Learn Distress Tolerance

Distress tolerance focuses on how to cope with intense emotions or difficult situations without making things worse. These skills help you get through painful moments in healthy ways when problems cannot be solved right away.

Learn Emotion Regulation

Emotion regulation skills help you better understand your emotions and learn ways to manage them more effectively. This includes recognizing what you’re feeling, reducing emotional vulnerability, and responding to emotions in ways that support your well-being.

Learn Interpersonal Effectiveness

Interpersonal effectiveness focuses on improving communication and relationships. These skills help you express your needs, set boundaries, and handle conflict while maintaining respect for yourself and others. The goal is to build healthier, more balanced relationships while staying true to your values.

How the Group Works

Each 90-minute session includes:

A brief check-in and review of the previous week
Teaching and practicing a new DBT skill
Interactive exercises or role-plays
Planning how to apply the skill during the week

Participants are encouraged to practice brief skills exercises between sessions.

Who This Group Can Help

This group may be helpful if you:

Feel overwhelmed by strong emotions	Struggle with anxiety or persistent overthinking
Experience relationship conflict	Have difficulty setting boundaries
Want practical coping tools rather than only insight	React strongly in stressful situations

Interested in Joining?

If you would like to learn more or register for the upcoming DBT Skills Group, please contact our clinical coordinator at the Cognitive and Interpersonal Therapy Centre.