Group therapy · Ages 12–17

Teen group therapy — peers, skills, and moderated support

Moderated virtual group therapy for California adolescents — embedded in IOP and outpatient programs. DBT skills groups, process groups, and age-matched cohorts with licensed clinicians.

  • Joint Commission accredited
  • In-network insurance
  • CBT & DBT
  • California telehealth

Mental Health For Teens · Portal

Starting soon

DBT Skills Group

4:00 PM · 90 min · Dr. Solis

EJMAK+2

7 participants joining

Next: Individual therapy

5:45 PM · with Dr. Solis

Care team message

“Great work on the grounding exercise — try it before tonight's session.”

Interactive preview · not real patient data

12–17

ages served

Virtual

care across CA

CBT · DBT

evidence-based care

Free

consultation

★ Joint Commission AccreditedIn-network with major insuranceCBT · DBT · Family therapyAvailable across CaliforniaFree, confidential consultations
Teen group therapy

Why group therapy helps adolescents — especially in IOP

Group therapy gives teens peer connection, skills practice, and normalization — moderated by licensed clinicians who specialize in adolescents. Online group schedules are built into IOP (several groups weekly) and available in outpatient when clinically appropriate. Virtual groups include safety norms, age matching, and clinician facilitation. Group, family, individual, and parent coaching are core parts of our virtual IOP and outpatient programs — not sold as standalone drop-in sessions disconnected from clinical care.

  • Age-matched moderated groups
  • DBT skills and process-oriented groups
  • Clinician-led — not peer-only chat
  • Licensed clinicians specializing in adolescents
  • CBT, DBT, and trauma-informed group therapy
  • Family therapy and parent coaching built in

Explore IOP for full weekly structure or outpatient for lighter group exposure.

Free consultation
Moderated online group therapy session for teens with clinician facilitation
Where groups fit

Group therapy within IOP and outpatient — not a standalone product

Families sometimes search for group therapy alone. Clinically, groups work best inside a coordinated program with individual and family therapy — which is how we deliver care.

Group modalities

Types of teen group therapy we offer

Group, family, individual, and parent coaching are core parts of our virtual IOP and outpatient programs — not sold as standalone drop-in sessions disconnected from clinical care.

DBT skills groupsProcess & peer support groups

Coping & regulation

DBT skills groups

Structured groups teaching distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal skills — with homework between sessions.

Connection & normalization

Process & peer support groups

Teens share experiences with same-age peers facing anxiety, mood, and school challenges — with clinical facilitation.

Group schedules

How often groups meet

IOP includes multiple groups weekly; outpatient may add a group when clinically helpful.

IOP groups

Several × / week

Part of 9–12 clinical hours

OP groups

Optional

When clinically indicated

Format

Secure video

Moderated live sessions

Duration

60–90 min

Typical group block

Groups are assigned at intake — not public drop-in calendars.

Weekly rhythm

Flexible scheduling around school

In IOP, groups typically appear on each of the three clinical days.

Typical cadence

1–3 sessions / week

Session length

50–60 minutes

Format

Secure telehealth

Session days

Tuesday & Thursday

  • After-school telehealth

    Individual, family, or group — based on your care plan

    1–3× / week
  • Skills homework

    Optional between-session practice when clinically helpful

    Practice

School · activities · rest

Other days

  • Monday, Wednesday, Friday

    Full school day and normal activities without clinical blocks

    School
  • Weekend

    Rest and family time; optional skill practice from the week

    Rest

Personalized at intake

Personalized at intake

Exact days and times are confirmed after your free consultation based on clinical needs.

What families ask

  • Most families start with one to two sessions weekly and adjust as symptoms improve.
  • The same clinician follows your teen for continuity — not a rotating schedule.
  • Step-down from IOP often means fewer groups and more individual focus.

Schedules adjust as teens step down or need more support.

Why group therapy works

Peer learning with clinical moderation

Peer connection

Reduces isolation — teens see others working on similar challenges.

Skills rehearsal

DBT and CBT skills practiced live, not only in individual sessions.

Moderated safety

Clinicians maintain group norms and confidentiality standards.

Online access

Virtual groups remove geographic barriers to peer support.

Group fit

Teens who benefit from group therapy

Group therapy suits adolescents who can participate respectfully in moderated virtual groups — usually within IOP or OP enrollment.

Often a good fit for IOP

Teens who feel isolated or different from peers

Adolescents learning DBT or CBT skills who benefit from practice with others

IOP enrollees needing peer normalization alongside individual work

Teens stable enough for group confidentiality norms

Not the right level

Teens unable to maintain group safety or confidentiality

Severe social anxiety requiring gradual individual work first — we stage exposure

Families seeking group-only care without program enrollment

Group + individual

Why groups complement individual therapy

Individual therapy alone misses peer learning. Groups add skills practice and connection — within a full program.

Weekly therapy

Private-pay

Virtual IOP

In-network

Peer learning

Limited in 1:1 only

Built into group blocks

Skills practice

Homework alone

Live practice with peers

Moderation

N/A

Licensed clinician-led

Integration

Separate providers

Same team coordinates group + individual

Online groups

Rare

Core IOP modality

Insurance

Varies

Part of IOP/OP authorization

Parent visibility

Opaque

Family sessions explain group goals

Getting started

From first call to first session

Most families move from first call to first session within days — not weeks of waiting.

Free consultation

A confidential call to understand your teen and answer every question — no pressure.

Clinical assessment

A licensed clinician evaluates safety, functioning, and the right level of care — including insurance authorization support.

Personalized care plan

We match the right level of care and verify your insurance benefits for you.

Enroll in a program with groups

Begin within days — secure video sessions from the comfort of home.

Insurance & admissions

We verify benefits before your teen starts — no surprise bills

Our admissions team handles authorization and explains estimated out-of-pocket costs in plain language before enrollment.

In-network with major California plans

Authorization support included

Transparent cost conversation before day one

Superbill assistance for out-of-network cases when applicable

In-network carriers include

Aetna
Cigna
Optum
Blue Shield of CA
Magellan
+ more

Don't see your plan? We also support out-of-network cases with superbills — we'll explain options during your free consultation.

Family stories

What parents say about virtual care

For the first time in a year, our daughter looked forward to something. The virtual groups gave her a place to belong.

— Parent of a 16-year-old · San Diego
FAQ

Common questions

Group therapy is part of our IOP and outpatient programs — coordinated with individual and family work. We don't offer standalone group-only enrollment.

Yes for many adolescents. Moderated virtual groups are a core IOP modality with strong engagement when facilitated by adolescent specialists.

By age band and clinical focus — assigned at intake, not open public groups.

Individual therapy runs in parallel. Clinicians help teens build toward participation at their pace.

Typically multiple groups weekly as part of the 9–12 clinical hour schedule.

Prefer to talk with someone?

Consultations are free and confidential.

Learn about group therapy in our programs

Book a free consultation to see if IOP or outpatient with groups fits your teen.