IN-PERSON · GRAND RAPIDS · ADULTS ONLY · NEXT COHORT MAY 19
DBT Skills Group in Grand Rapids : Eight Weeks of Tools That Actually Stick
4.9 ★
across 58 Google reviews
Looking for a DBT Skills Group Grand Rapids residents can join in person? JumpStart 2 Recovery runs therapist-led Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills training for adults - mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness, taught one module at a time, with weekly homework you actually do. Pay per session. No insurance required.
.png)
Led by Melissa Rosado, LMSW
Tuesdays 12:00–1:15pm
Why DBT, not Just MoreTalk Therapy
DBT Skills Group in Grand Rapids: Eight Weeks of Tools That Actually Stick
Most therapy works on understanding why you do what you do. That's important - and for some patterns, it's enough. But for the things that catch you off guard week after week - the explosion at your partner over something small, the silent shutdown when someone gets too close, the spiral after a hard text - understanding why isn't fixing it. The behavior is faster than the insight.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy is different. DBT teaches specific, repeatable skills that interrupt the pattern at the moment it starts. Not theory. Not a diagnosis. A skill: a thing you do, on purpose, that changes what happens next.
This group teaches those skills. In a room. With other adults. With a therapist who corrects you when you practice them wrong.
This group is for you if
Most adults who do well in DBT recognize themselves in at least three of these:
Your emotions feel bigger or faster than other people's, and they catch you off guard
You react in ways you regret - saying things, sending things, doing things you'd take back if you could
Conversations with people you love keep ending the same way, and you don't know how to break the loop
You've done individual therapy and it helped - but the patterns are still there
You've tried apps, books, podcasts. None of it sticks when something actually goes wrong
You can commit to eight weeks, in person, on Tuesdays at noon
This group is not for you if
Being clear about this protects everyone in the group, including you:
You're in active crisis (please call 988 or visit your nearest emergency department first)
You're under 18 (this group is adults only)
You're looking primarily for medical treatment or evaluation (we focus on skills training, not medical care)
You can't commit to attending most weeks — the group is closed and skills build week to week
You need virtual or telehealth-only treatment (this group is in-person only)
This group is for you if
Most adults who do well in DBT recognize themselves in at least three of these:
Your emotions feel bigger or faster than other people's, and they catch you off guard
You react in ways you regret - saying things, sending things, doing things you'd take back if you could
Conversations with people you love keep ending the same way, and you don't know how to break the loop
You've done individual therapy and it helped - but the patterns are still there
You've tried apps, books, podcasts. None of it sticks when something actually goes wrong
You can commit to eight weeks, in person, on Tuesdays at noon
This group is not for you if
Being clear about this protects everyone in the group, including you:
You're in active crisis (please call 988 or visit your nearest emergency department first)
You're under 18 (this group is adults only)
You're looking primarily for medical treatment or evaluation (we focus on skills training, not medical care)
You can't commit to attending most weeks — the group is closed and skills build week to week
You need virtual or telehealth-only treatment (this group is in-person only)
The Four Modules
DBT teaches four skill sets. We cover all of them in eight weeks
Each module gets dedicated weeks. Skills from earlier modules show up in later ones - that's how DBT is built. By week eight, you've practiced every skill at least three times in real life, with weekly debrief and correction.
Mindfulness
The foundation. Without mindfulness, the other skills don't have anywhere to land.
What you'll learn :
-
How to notice what you're feeling before it takes over
-
The difference between observing an emotion and being controlled by one
-
Three concrete practices you can use anywhere - at work, in traffic, mid-argument
-
Why most popular meditation advice doesn't work for people with intense emotions, and what does
The Four Modules
DBT teaches four skill sets. We cover all of them in eight weeks
What it costs :
PAY PER SESSION
$50
Per 75-minute session, paid weekly
PREPAY ALL EIGHT WEEKS
$320
$40 per session - save $80
Tuesdays, 12:00–1:15pm
8 consecutive weeks · next cohort starts May 19, 2026
1345 Monroe Ave NW #269, Grand Rapids
Creston neighborhood · free parking on-site
6 to 8 adults
Closed cohort · same group all 8 weeks
Melissa Rosado, LMSW
Michigan-licensed · DBT-trained
No insurance billed. No copay. No deductible math. The price is the price.
What Each Week Looks Like
A typical 75-minute session
Sessions are structured. Not freeform talking.
Here's what to expect :
Minutes 0–10
The foundation. Without mindfulness, the other skills don't have anywhere to land.
Minutes 10–20
Homework review. Each member shares how they used last week's skill in real life. Wins and misfires both count.
Minutes 20–55
New skill instruction. Melissa teaches the week's skill, demonstrates it, and walks the group through structured practice exercises.
Minutes 55–70
Live practice. Pairs or small groups try the skill on a real situation from their week Melissa coaches in real time.
Minutes 70–75
Homework assignment. Specific, written. Practice this skill at least three times before next week.
Yes, there's homework. Yes, the group expects you to do it. That's not a bug - that's the whole point. Skills you don't practice don't become skills.
What Past Clients Say
4.9 stars across 58 Google reviews
Reviews below are pulled from JumpStart 2 Recovery's verified Google Business Profile, plus internal client testimonials with written consent.
“This group gave me practical tools, not just advice. Learning distress tolerance, mindfulness, emotion regulation, and communication skills in a clear weekly format made everything easier to apply. I appreciated that the sessions were structured, honest, and focused on real progress.”
Daniel R.
Graduate Student
“The DBT Skills Group helped me feel less alone while learning tools that actually made sense. Practicing with others and talking through real situations each week made the skills easier to remember and use. I left with more confidence in how I handle stress, conflict, and intense emotions.”
Michael T.
Healthcare Professional
“What I appreciated most was how practical the group was. Every week gave me something specific to practice, and by the end of the program I had a clearer way to manage emotions, communicate needs, and get through difficult moments without making things worse.”
Amanda L.
College Student
Three Steps To Reserve Your Spot
Enrollment is straightforward — and the May 19 cohort is filling now
STEP 01
Brief screening call
A 15-minute phone conversation with our team. We make sure DBT and a group format are the right fit for what you're working on. No charge.
STEP 02
Reserve your spot
Pay for your first session ($50) or prepay all eight weeks ($320, save $80) . Spots are first - come, first-served - six to eight per cohort.
STEP 03
Show up May 19
Arrive at 1345 Monroe Ave Itll be held on he second floor conference room by 11:55am for the noon start. Bring a notebook . That's it.
Common Questions
Answers before you call
The DBT Skills Group at JumpStart 2 Recovery is $50 per 75-minute session, paid weekly, or $320 prepaid for all eight weeks (which works out to $40 per session - a $80 savings). Total cost for the full cohort is $320–$400 depending on payment plan. We don't bill insurance for this group; payment is due at or before each session.
The group runs for eight consecutive weeks, with one 75-minute session per week. The next cohort starts Tuesday, May 19, 2026, and meets every Tuesday from 12:00 to 1:15pm at 1345 Monroe Ave NW in Grand Rapids
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing distorted thoughts. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) builds on CBT but adds two things : acceptance - based skills (mindfulness, distress tolerance) and a focus on emotion regulation and relationships . DBT was originally developed by Marsha Linehan for people whose emotions are intense and reactive which is why it tends to work better than pure CBT for those patterns.
No. You don't need a referral , a diagnosis , or insurance pre-authorization. We do a brief 15 - minute phone screening to confirm the group is a fit. Many of our clients have never been formally diagnosed with anything they just recognize that intense emotions and reactive patterns are getting in the way of the life they want.
All eight sessions are in person at our Grand Rapids office : 1345 Monroe Ave Conference Room. We don't offer virtual or hybrid attendance. Group skills training works because of physical presence the practice exercises, the body - based skills, the dynamics of being in a room with other adults all depend on in-person format.
Because the cohort is closed and skills build week to week, attendance matters. You can miss one session over the eight weeks without it derailing your progress. If you anticipate missing more than one (vacation, work travel, anything you know about in advance), we'll suggest waiting for a future cohort that fits your schedule. We don't refund for missed sessions, but we will schedule you into the next cohort at no additional cost if attendance becomes a real problem.
For most people, yes. DBT skills group teaches the skills ; individual therapy works on personal application of those skills to your specific history and relationships. Many clients do well with just the group. Some choose to add individual therapy in parallel - we offer that too, and can connect you with one of our individual therapists if that's the right fit.
A notebook and a pen. That's it. We provide all worksheets, handouts, and the DBT skills binder. No homework before the first session. No pre-reading required. Show up willing to participate that's the only prerequisite
No. This is a skills group for adults who are stable enough to commit to eight weeks of weekly attendance and homework. If you're currently in crisis or having thoughts of self - harm, please call 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or visit your local emergency department. Once stabilized, this group is an excellent next step - many of our clients come to DBT after stabilizing somewhere else