DBT Skills Group in Cedar Grove, NJ: What It Is and Who It’s For

If you’ve been struggling with intense emotions, relationship challenges, or patterns that you can’t seem to change, you may have come across the term DBT and wondered what it actually means and if it could actually help you.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is often mentioned in mental health spaces, but many people aren’t sure what a DBT involves, who it’s meant for, how it helps, or if the skill groups are different from individual therapy. The uncertainty alone can make reaching out feel overwhelming.

This page is here to clearly explain what DBT is, what the skill group is, what you can expect, and who tends to benefit most, so you can decide whether joining a DBT group in NJ feels like the best next step for you.

First of all, what does DBT stand for?

DBT stands for Dialectical Behavior Therapy. The word dialectical refers to holding two things at the same time (accepting yourself as you are while also working toward change).

This balance is at the heart of DBT. Many people turn to DBT skills when they feel stuck between wanting life to feel different and feeling unsure how to change without becoming overwhelmed, shutting down, or pushing themselves too hard.

DBT skills are designed to help you build awareness, flexibility, and choice,  especially in moments when emotions feel intense or uncontrollable.

What skills are taught in a DBT Skills Group?

DBT skills groups focus on four core skills:

1. Mindfulness

Mindfulness skills help you notice what’s happening internally and externally without immediately reacting. These skills support your ability to stay present in the moment, create space between feelings and actions, and increase awareness of thoughts, emotions, and body sensations. This forms the foundation for all other DBT skills.

2. Distress Tolerance

Distress tolerance skills are about getting through difficult moments without making things worse. These skills can help you cope during crises or high-stress situations, reduce impulsive or reactive behaviors and tolerate discomfort safely. The goal isn’t to eliminate pain, it’s to survive it without causing harm to yourself or others.

3. Emotion Regulation

Emotion regulation skills focus on understanding and managing strong emotions more effectively. You may learn how to identify emotions more clearly, reduce vulnerability to certain emotions, and respond to emotions in ways that feel less overwhelming. For people who feel emotionally flooded or exhausted by their feelings, these skills can be grounding.

4. Interpersonal Effectiveness

Interpersonal effectiveness skills support healthier communication and boundaries. These skills can help with asking for what you need, saying no without guilt, navigating conflict more effectively, and maintaining self-respect in relationships. Many people find this area particularly helpful if relationships tend to feel intense, confusing, or draining.

So, what is a DBT Skills Group?

A DBT skills group is a structured, therapist-led group where participants learn practical skills for managing emotions, coping with distress, and navigating relationships more effectively.

Unlike process-based group therapy, DBT skills groups are skills-focused. The emphasis is on learning tools you can apply in real life, especially during moments that feel overwhelming, reactive, or emotionally intense.

In a DBT skills group, participants typically:

• Learn specific emotional regulation and coping skills
• Practice applying skills to everyday situations
• Receive structure, consistency, and guidance from a licensed clinician
• Learn alongside others working on similar challenges

Groups follow a clear framework, which helps create predictability along with constant support, something many people find especially helpful when emotions already feel hard to manage.

What about Verne’s DBT Skills Group?

The Verne DBT Skills Group provides a supportive, collaborative environment where young adults can build a practical toolkit to help navigate the emotional, relational, and life challenges of being a young adult in 2026.

Rather than focusing on past experiences in depth, this group emphasizes learning and practicing skills you can use in daily life, especially during moments that feel chaotic, overwhelming, or hard to manage alone.

Together, group members will develop and strengthen skills in four key areas:

• Mindfulness: Quiet the noise and find space to think more clearly
• Distress Tolerance: Find calm in the chaos
• Emotion Regulation: Learn how to be responsive rather than reactive
• Interpersonal Effectiveness: Build deeper, healthier connections with people in your life

This DBT skills group is designed to complement individual therapy, offering additional structure, practice, and support. All group members must be actively working with an individual therapist while participating in the group.

Who Is a DBT Skills Group For?

A DBT skills group may be a good fit if you:

• Experience intense or quickly shifting emotions
• Feel overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, or mood swings
• Struggle with impulse control or emotional reactions
• Have difficulty setting boundaries or communicating needs
• Feel stuck in patterns that haven’t changed despite insight
• Want practical tools you can use outside of therapy sessions

DBT skills groups are helpful for children and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma-related symptoms, emotional dysregulation, or relationship challenges.

Something important to note is that you do not need to be in crisis to benefit from a DBT skills group. Many people join because they want more structure, support, and concrete tools, not because something is “wrong” with them.

Verne DBT Skills Group requirements:

To ensure the group is supportive and effective for all participants, the following requirements apply:

• Must be 21–35 years of age
• Must be able to transport to and from our in-person location in Cedar Grove, NJ
• Must be able to commit to the full 22-week duration of the group
• Must be actively working with an individual therapist

These guidelines help create consistency, safety, and a shared foundation among group members.

Who Might Not Be the Best Fit?

While DBT skills groups are supportive for many people, they aren’t the right fit for everyone.

A DBT group may not be ideal if you:

• Are looking primarily for in-depth processing of past trauma
• Prefer open-ended group discussion
• Are unable to commit to regular attendance
• Are seeking immediate crisis intervention

In many cases, DBT skills groups work best alongside individual therapy, where deeper processing and personalized support can also happen.

What is it like to be in a DBT Skills Group?

It’s very common to feel nervous about joining a group, especially if you’ve never participated in group therapy before. DBT groups are intentionally structured and predictable, which can help reduce anxiety about the unknown. You are never required to share more than you’re comfortable with. The focus is on learning skills, not telling your life story.

Groups typically:

• Follow a clear weekly format
• Focus on teaching and practicing skills
• Encourage participation without pressure to overshare
• Emphasize respect, confidentiality, and emotional safety

DBT Skills Group vs. Individual Therapy

DBT skills groups and individual therapy serve different, but complementary, purposes.

• DBT skills groups focus on learning and practicing skills in a structured, educational setting
• Individual therapy focuses more on personal history and current reactions, emotional processing, and individualized support

Many people find that combining both offers a more well-rounded approach.

Why Consider Joining a DBT Skills Group Now?

If you’ve been feeling stuck or overwhelmed, a DBT skills group can offer:

• Structure and consistency
• Practical tools you can use immediately
• Constant support from professionals and peers
• A chance to learn alongside others who understand

Exploring a DBT group doesn’t mean committing before you’re ready, it just gives you more information and options.

If you’re curious about whether a DBT group in New Jersey might be a good fit, reaching out to learn more can be a helpful first step.

If you meet the above requirements and are interested in learning more about the Verne DBT Skills Group in Cedar Grove, NJ, the next step is to speak with our Clinical Account Specialist, who can help guide you through the registration process and answer any initial questions.

Emily Whitman
862-330-1727, extension 3

You’re welcome to ask questions, explore expectations, and decide at your own pace. You don’t have to figure everything out alone, and you don’t have to commit before it feels right.

Reaching out does not mean committing right away, it simply opens the door to learning more and deciding whether this group feels like the right fit for you.

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