DBT Skills Group for Mothers of Intense Teenagers

Family members can learn DBT skills to help their loved ones. — Alan E. Fruzzetti, co-creator of the DBT skills for families

DBT Skills Group for Mothers of Intense Teenagers's Purpose or Mission

Evidence based skills to bring calm and connection home. This DBT skills group is created for mothers of emotionally intense teens who are trying to stay steady in the middle of difficult moments. The goal is to offer practical, evidence based tools that help you feel more confident, communicate with clarity, and strengthen the bond you already have with your child. We focus on real life situations so that you can take the skills home and use them right away. As you learn and practice, you begin to notice how even small shifts can bring more calm, more connection, and more hope into your daily interactions.

Through DBT individual and family skills, you can gently turn frustration into understanding and a deeper sense of emotional connection. Mothers often share that they feel more grounded, and that their teens begin to feel safer and more understood. Over time, these skills help create a home environment that feels calmer for your teen, calmer for you, and healthier for the entire family system. The purpose of this work is not perfection but growth, compassion, and a more peaceful way of being together.

DBT Skills Group for Mothers of Intense Teenagers is designed for

This group is designed for mothers of teens who want to better understand their child's intense emotions and learn how to respond with steadiness and compassion. Many mothers come in feeling unsure of how to help their teen manage feelings that seem over the top or unpredictable. Together we explore skills that support you in managing your own emotional reactions, which often shifts the entire tone of your interactions at home. As you grow more aware of your patterns, you begin to notice how small changes in your responses can create more space for connection and calmer conversations.

We also focus on reducing power struggles around religion, school, friends, chores, or any of the sensitive areas that tend to spark conflict. You will learn strategies that help resolve disagreements in a lasting and respectful way so that both you and your teen feel good about the plan. Another core part of the group is deepening empathy for your child while learning how not to be swept up in family or communal stigma related to their behavior. By strengthening your insight, your confidence, and your relational tools, you create a safer emotional environment where both you and your teen can thrive.

Participants who join DBT Skills Group for Mothers of Intense Teenagers can expect

Participants who join us can expect to learn how to use these skills in real life situations, including the ones that feel most overwhelming or confusing. We take time to practice the DBT skills for individuals so that you can stay calmer and more centered in the moments that matter most. As you grow more grounded, you will find it easier to parent in a way that feels intentional and aligned with your values. We want you to leave each session feeling clearer, more capable, and better prepared to show up for your teen.

You will also learn the DBT family skills that support effective parenting and healthier conflict management, with an emphasis on strengthening the parent teen relationship. Together we look at common interaction patterns so you can better understand what is happening, why it is happening, and which skill will help in that moment. Another focus of the group is learning how to balance the needs of your teen with the needs of your other children and your own emotional well being. This helps prevent burnout and resentment and supports you in creating a home environment where everyone can feel respected, supported, and understood.

Jewish Community Experience

My work in the Jewish community has grown from many years of experience across a wide range of backgrounds, including Litvish, Yeshivish, Chassidish, Sephardi, and Modern Orthodox families. I have had the privilege of supporting teens who are struggling with their relationship to Yiddishkeit, as well as challenges in school, family life, and friendships. This has given me a deep appreciation for the nuances within each community and for the strength and resilience that families bring to the therapeutic process. I meet each mother and teen with sensitivity to their values, expectations, and lived experiences.

Since 2012, I have maintained a private practice in Lakewood, where I continue to work closely with individuals and families seeking guidance and stability during emotionally intense times. My background also includes serving as a school social worker at Bet Yaakov in Deal, along with years of teaching in elementary and high schools in New York and New Jersey. These roles have allowed me to see firsthand how community, education, and family systems influence a teen's emotional world. They also inform the compassionate, practical approach I bring to DBT work with mothers and their children.a

Approaches

• Couples Counseling
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
• Family Therapy
• Trauma Focused Therapy

Concerns

• Eating disorders & disordered eating
• Emotion regulation
• Life purpose and meaning
• Mood Disorders
• Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Personality issues & disorders
• Relationships
• Self-Harm/Suicidality
• Trauma

12 years in practice

Licenses

• New Jersey
• New York

Degrees

• Doctor of Social Work (DSW) by Wurzweiler School of Social Work 2025
• Masters of Social Work (MSW) by Wurzweiler School of Social Work 1999
• Masters of Education (EdM) in Developmental Psychology & Reading Remediation by Teachers College, Columbia University 1994
• Masters of Arts (MA) in Psychology by New York University 1992

Certificates

• Linehan Board Certified DBT Clinician by DBT-Linehan Board of Certification

Trainings

• DBT Intensive Training by Behavioral Tech 2012-2013
• DBT Skills with Multi-Problem Adolescents & Their Families: Skills Updates, Teaching Strategies, and Engaging Teens and Caregivers by Behavioral Tech 2015
• DBT for Children by Behavioral Tech 2018
• Integrating FBT with DBT for Adolescents by Behavioral Care Center of New Jersey 2021
• Family Based Therapy (FBT) for Anorexia by Train 2 Treat 4 ED 2022
• DBT Skills by Nachas Counseling 2022
• DBT with Parents, Couples & Families 2022
• Using Relationship Mindfulness to Build Connections by Center for DBT and Families 2023
• What Next? Moving to Stage 3 DBT by DBTPE 2024
• Getting to Adherence in DBT by DBT Adherence 2024
• DBT-PTSD: An Evidence-Based Treatment for Complex PTSD by Nachas Consulting
• Behaviorism for DBT Therapists by Portland DBT Institute 2025
• Acceptance and Change Protocol by Metro NY DBT Center 2025
• DBT-PE for PTSD by Behavioral Tech 2014

Average costs per session

$300 - $325