Coping & regulation
DBT skills groups
Structured groups teaching distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal skills — with homework between sessions.
Virtual IOP & OP · Ages 12–17 · CaliforniaIn-network insurance accepted
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Inside IOP · Group sessions
Teen group therapy — peers, skills, and moderated support
Group therapy is part of our virtual IOP week — several clinician-led groups, not a drop-in product. Weekly outpatient can add a group when it fits. Age-matched cohorts, DBT skills, and process groups.
- Joint Commission accredited
- In-network insurance
- CBT & DBT
- California telehealth
Mental Health For Teens · Portal
Starting soon
DBT Skills Group
5:00 PM · 60 min · Dr. Solis
EJMAK+2
7 participants joining
Next: Individual therapy
6:00 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
Admissions
consult
★ Joint Commission accreditedIn-network with major insuranceCBT · DBT · Family therapyAvailable across CaliforniaConfidential admissions consult
Teen group therapy
Why group therapy helps adolescents — especially in IOP
At Mental Health For Teens, group therapy is one room inside the program, not a competing level of care. IOP is the hours-per-week decision. Group is who sits with your teen during some of those hours. In virtual IOP, several clinician-led groups are on the weekly schedule — DBT skills, process, and age-matched cohorts. Weekly outpatient may add a group when it helps; it is not a separate enrollment product. Individual, group, family, and parent coaching are session formats inside virtual IOP and weekly outpatient — not levels of care and not sold as standalone drop-in hours. You enroll in a program; clinicians decide who is in the room each week.
- ✓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
If you need more structure than weekly therapy, start with IOP. This page explains the group sessions inside that program.
619-354-3569→
Group modalities
Types of teen group therapy we offer
Individual, group, family, and parent coaching are session formats inside virtual IOP and weekly outpatient — not levels of care and not sold as standalone drop-in hours. You enroll in a program; clinicians decide who is in the room each week.
DBT skills groupsProcess & peer support groups
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 on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 5pm, 6pm, and 7pm PT; outpatient may add a group when clinically helpful.
IOP groups
Tue / Wed / Thu
5pm, 6pm, and 7pm PT — part of 9–12 clinical hours
OP groups
Optional
When clinically indicated, same evening window
Format
Secure video
Moderated live sessions
Duration
60 min
Hourly group blocks
Groups are assigned at intake — not public drop-in calendars.
Weekly rhythm
Evening sessions around school
In IOP, groups typically appear on each of the three clinical days.
Session days
Tue / Wed / Thu
Session times
5 · 6 · 7 PM
Format
Secure telehealth
Session days
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
5pm, 6pm, and 7pm PT
Group and individual sessions — based on your care plan
1–3× / week in OPSkills homework
Optional between-session practice when clinically helpful
Practice
School · activities · rest
Other days
Monday & Friday
Full school day and normal activities without clinical blocks
SchoolWeekend
Rest and family time; optional skill practice from the week
Rest
Personalized at intake
Personalized at intake
Exact 5pm, 6pm, and 7pm slots on Tue / Wed / Thu are confirmed after you speak with admissions.
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
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.
Level of care
Outpatient therapy
1–3 sessions weekly for teens who need ongoing support without intensive structure.
Level of care
Virtual IOP
9–12 clinical hours weekly when symptoms need more structure — delivered by telehealth across California.
Level of care
Residential / inpatient
When 24/7 monitoring is required, we refer to trusted partners and plan step-down care.
Getting started
From first call to first session
Most families move from first call to first session within days — not weeks of waiting.
Speak with admissions
A confidential call with our admissions team to understand your teen and answer questions. It is not a clinical evaluation.
Clinical assessment
A licensed clinician evaluates safety, functioning, and the right level of care — including insurance authorization support.
Personalized care plan
If you move forward, a licensed clinician completes the clinical assessment. We match the level of care and verify insurance benefits.
Enroll in a program with groups
Many families can begin within five to seven business days when virtual care is clinically appropriate, program capacity is available, and insurance authorization is complete.
Group + individual
Why groups complement individual therapy
Individual therapy alone misses peer learning. Groups add skills practice and connection — within a full program.
| Weekly therapyUsually weekly | Virtual IOPFrequency based on level of care |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Conditions we treat
Group therapy supports teens facing real challenges
Teen anxiety
Panic, worry, school avoidance, and social anxiety that interfere with daily life.
Teen depression
Persistent low mood, numbness, withdrawal, and loss of interest.
Trauma & PTSD
Processing painful experiences in a trauma-informed virtual setting.
Self-harm concerns
Structured support and safety planning when self-injury is part of the picture.
School refusal
Gradual re-entry planning alongside anxiety and mood treatment.
Emotional dysregulation
DBT-informed skills for intense emotions and impulsive reactions.
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 when you speak with admissions.
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.”
Related reading
More on IOP & teen care
Service guide
Virtual IOP
The program that includes group, individual, and family sessions.
Read moreService guide
Individual therapy
The one-on-one hour in the same IOP week.
Read moreService guide
Family therapy
Teen plus caregivers — another session type, not a separate program.
Read moreService guide
Virtual IOP for teens
Structured telehealth IOP when weekly therapy isn't enough.
Read moreService guide
Outpatient program
Flexible 1–3 sessions weekly for ongoing support or IOP step-down.
Read moreFAQ
Common questions
No. Group therapy is a session format inside virtual IOP or weekly outpatient. IOP is the hours-per-week decision. Groups are who sits with your teen during some of those hours. 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.