Enrolling now · Weekly DBT skills group · Vista, CA
DBT Skills Group in Vista, CA
DBT Skills Are For Everyone
A weekly group where you learn and practice real DBT skills, alongside a small group of adults, led by a licensed psychologist in North County San Diego.
This is a skills group (learning and practicing tools together), not one-on-one therapy. Looking for individual DBT-informed therapy instead? We offer that too, just ask on a free call.
You can join a group that's already meeting
Here's everything you need to decide, up front. Enrollment is rolling, so there's no waiting for a new group to form.
Does any of this sound familiar
You might relate if…
- 01 Your emotions hit hard and fast, and calming down feels almost impossible
- 02 The same relationships keep rupturing in the same painful ways
- 03 You act on impulse, then wish you could take it back
- 04 You've been told, or you quietly feel, that you're “too much”
- 05 You shut down or go numb when feelings get too big
There's nothing wrong with you. These are skills, and skills can be learned.
What this actually is
A place to learn the skills, then practice them.
A DBT skills group is a weekly, class-style therapy group where a small number of adults learn and practice dialectical behavior therapy skills together, guided by a licensed psychologist. DBT skills are evidence-based, practical tools. They help with everyday stress, chronic symptoms, and moments of intense distress, so you can focus on your goals and build a life that feels worth living.
Group, or individual therapy? A quick, honest guide.
A skills group is the right fit if you want concrete tools and you learn well alongside other people. Individual therapy is one-on-one, private, and built entirely around your history. Plenty of people do both. Coastal Therapy Group offers DBT-informed individual therapy as well, so if one-on-one turns out to be the better starting point, tell us on a free call and we'll help you sort out which makes sense.
The four skills you'll build
- 01 Mindfulness Noticing what you feel and think in the moment, without getting swept away by it.
- 02 Distress tolerance Getting through a crisis moment without making it worse.
- 03 Emotion regulation Understanding your emotions and turning down their intensity.
- 04 Interpersonal effectiveness Asking for what you need and setting limits without blowing up the relationship.
You don't need a diagnosis to benefit, and you do not need borderline personality disorder to do DBT. These are tools for anyone whose emotions run hot or whose relationships keep hitting the same wall.
About the Monday afternoon time
A daytime group, on purpose.
The group meets Mondays at 3:00pm. That won't suit every 9-to-5 schedule, and we'd rather be upfront than pretend otherwise. A weekday afternoon tends to be a real gift for:
- Students and college students with daytime gaps
- Remote and shift workers with weekday flexibility
- Stay-at-home and work-from-home parents
- People stepping down from a higher level of care (PHP or IOP)
- Anyone whose schedule simply has room in the afternoon
Can't make Monday at 3:00pm? Tell us anyway. We keep a waitlist and use it to plan future groups at new days and times, so add your name and we'll reach out when something fits.
Is this the right fit
Who this group is for.
A good fit if
This is your speed.
- You're an adult (18+) who wants practical tools for managing big emotions
- You like learning alongside other people, not just open-ended talk
- A weekday afternoon works for you, or your schedule is flexible
- You want skills you can actually use this week, in real situations
Not the right fit if
A different kind of support fits better.
- You're in acute crisis or need a higher level of care right now (we'll help point you to the right support)
- You want one-on-one therapy only (ask us about DBT-informed individual work)
- You can't attend with any consistency
- You need a private space to process deep personal history first
Not sure where you land? That's exactly what the free consultation is for.
The practicals
How the group works.
The DBT skills group meets weekly on Monday afternoons at our Vista office, just off the 78 in North County San Diego.
Group is one of the most affordable ways to work with a licensed psychologist at our practice, and you can attend it on its own or alongside individual therapy. For how private-pay and out-of-network reimbursement work, see our cost and insurance page.
Meet your group leader
Warm, steady, and easy to talk to.
Jenna Suway, PhD
Licensed Psychologist · they/them
Jenna Suway, PhD, is a licensed psychologist (California PSY33767) at Coastal Therapy Group in Vista. They lead the DBT skills group and see individual clients, and their style is collaborative, non-judgmental, and down to earth.
"People aren't cookies, so I don't use a cookie-cutter model. I want to create an open, safe space where we can explore, practice, and learn together." Bringing DBT skills into a small group is a natural extension of that: a place to try new tools with real support in the room.
Read more about Dr. Suway →Good questions
What people ask before the first call.
01 What is a DBT skills group?
A DBT skills group is a weekly, class-style therapy group where a small number of adults learn and practice dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills together, guided by a licensed clinician. Instead of open-ended talk, you build concrete tools across four areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. At Coastal Therapy Group, the group meets weekly in Vista, CA (North County San Diego) and is led by Jenna Suway, PhD, a licensed psychologist.
02 What's the difference between a DBT skills group and individual therapy?
A DBT skills group teaches and practices specific coping skills alongside other people, on a set weekly schedule. Individual therapy is one-on-one, private, and shaped entirely around your own history and goals. Many people do both: group to build skills, individual work to go deeper. Coastal Therapy Group also offers DBT-informed individual therapy, so if one-on-one is the better fit for you, ask us on a free call and we will help you decide.
03 Who is DBT for?
DBT was created for people who feel emotions intensely and want practical tools to manage them, but the skills help almost anyone. People join a DBT skills group for fast-moving emotions, relationships that keep rupturing, impulsive reactions, anxiety, and everyday stress. You do not need a specific diagnosis to benefit.
04 Do I have to have borderline personality disorder to do DBT?
No. DBT was first developed to help people with borderline personality disorder, but you do not need that diagnosis, or any diagnosis, to join a DBT skills group. The skills are evidence-based tools for managing emotions, tolerating distress, and strengthening relationships, and they help a wide range of adults.
05 The Monday 3:00pm time doesn't work for me. Can I still join?
It's worth asking. The current group meets Mondays at 3:00pm, which tends to fit students, remote or shift workers, parents at home, and people stepping down from a higher level of care. If that time doesn't work for you, tell us on the inquiry form. We keep a waitlist and use it to plan future groups at new days and times.
06 How much does it cost, and do you take insurance?
The DBT skills group is $100 per session, paid weekly. Coastal Therapy Group is a private-pay practice and out-of-network with insurance, but we provide monthly superbills you can submit to a PPO plan for possible reimbursement. See our cost and insurance page for details.
07 Do I have to commit to a set number of weeks?
You can ask all of your questions first, with no commitment. The group is ongoing with rolling enrollment, so you can join a group that is already meeting rather than waiting for a new one to form. Once you join, showing up consistently is what makes the skills stick, and we will talk through what that looks like on your free call.
08 Is what I share confidential?
Yes. Every member agrees to confidentiality before joining, and Dr. Suway sets clear expectations so the group feels safe. You will learn exactly how it works during your free consultation.
Ready when you are
Interested?
The DBT skills group meets weekly in Vista, CA. Mondays 3:00–3:50pm, $100 per session, 3 to 8 members. It's running now with rolling enrollment, so you can join an ongoing group instead of waiting for a new one to start.
The first step is a free 15-minute consultation. You can ask every question first, with no commitment, and a real person from our team will get back to you, usually within one business day.
Ask about joiningGet started with a free Group Fit Call
Interested, or not sure yet and want help deciding? You can ask every question before you commit to anything. Fill out the form and a real person from our team will reply, usually within one business day. Prefer to talk first? Call or text (760) 334-6262.