✓ 12-week group session
Goodbye, endless therapy.
Hello, time and cost-efficiency.
✓ No child therapy required
Parenting-focused.
No child participation necessary.
✓ Designed to
empower YOU
Learn to cope better and feel better as you parent better
Parenting a Child with
BIG Emotions
Feels Impossible.
I’m with you, Mom and Dad.
You’re exhausted.
Drained.
Finished.
Out of ideas.
Ready to give up –
for the 10th time this week.
Parenting a child with BIG feelings and behaviors is HARDDD.
You want them to be happy, to thrive.
You want to be the best parent you possibly can.
You’ve read the books, drawn dozens of charts, paid the professionals, tried the meds.
But whatever you do, they still
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Greet every little problem with BIG emotions and behaviors
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React speedily, often zooming instantly from 0 to 100 – and take too long to calm down
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Can’t wait, chronically demanding relief from boredom
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Behave aggressively, struggling to get along with others
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Fight you when it comes to all things hygiene
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Constantly drag you into power struggles
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Make everyday home life stressful and draining
What is DBT-C?
DBT-C is an evidence-based therapy that helps deeply feeling kids manage their
big feelings,
big behaviors
and big thoughts.
DBT-C
The 5-minute crash course
"Children who need the most love ask for it in the most unloving ways."
-Dr. Russell Barkley
That's why DBT-C was developed.
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It's in their wiring
Some children are born more more sensitive and more reactive than others. These kids have Big Feelings and even bigger behaviors.
Kids who struggle with big feelings and big behaviors are often deeply-feeling, sensitive kids. "Good enough" parenting just isn't enough for these supersensor kids.
The Social Piece
Deeply-feeling kids are often viewed as "too" reactive and "too" sensitive.
It can look as if they’re trying to push our buttons. So we come down hard on them with correction, judgement, criticism and even consequences. Which just confirms what they already know--that we don't really understand them. And, usually makes the behavior worse.
The Transactional Cycle
As parents struggle to figure out their child's confusing and exasperating behaviors, their deeply-feeling, supersensor child inadvertently puts pressure on the family environment. And the environment (parents and siblings) push back,
The Problem
Kids with Big Feelings begin to believe that their feelings are "too much," that their reactions don't make sense and that they are "difficult."
Psychologists realized this cycle doesn't just make life miserable for both parent and child. It also erodes the child's mental health, leaving them highly likely to develop clinical mental illness or addictions down the line.
DBT-C breaks the cycle.
First, it helps parents understand and accept their supersensor's emotional world. They learn to validate their child's experiences and create an environment where kids are ready, willing and capable of change.
Next come the emotion regulation tools.
Parents learn how to model healthy coping and problem-solving skills. Which means that not only do they get to teach their kids these skills – they also get to use them themselves when parenting gets tough!
Long-term change and wellness.
Finally, parents learn to heal the gaps in their child's emotional world. They learn how to foster self-love, a healthy sense of safety, and a feeling of belonging in their children. This way, they can succeed beyond limiting difficult behavior and raise healthy kids prepared for happy lives.
You’ve tried every other trick in the book.
Here’s why DBT-C might actually work:
It targets – and heals – the root of the issue
DBT-C isn’t another set of parenting techniques that worked for everyone else but you. It’s a journey that helps you understand and treat the core of your child’s difficulties. Beyond simply stopping difficult behaviors, it builds the skills they need to function like the healthy, awesome people they really can be.
It strengthens the parent-child relationship
Raising a supersensor can take a huge toll on the parent-child relationship. Traditional therapy focuses on building a relationship between the therapist and child. In DBT-C, the focus is on strengthening your relationship with your child, helping you create the validating, authentic and trusting relationship you dreamed of.
It puts parents in the driver's’ seat
No need to drag a tantruming child to therapy to get results. DBT-C turns parents into their children’s coaches, giving them the tools to treat and guide them throughout life.
In DBT-C, YOU will build the emotion regulation and coping skills to ace this journey and give your child the supportive Mom and Dad they need.
Meet Your DBT-C Therapist
Hi there, I’m Suri.
I get how draining and confusing it is to be the parent of a supersensor. I’m a mom of 4 myself.
I’ve also spent the last 30 years practicing in the fields of education and mental health, guiding children, teens, parents and families dealing with all kinds of behavioral struggles and diagnoses.
As a licensed therapist certified in CBT, TF-CBT, IFS, Somatic Experiencing, PCIT, DBT, Parent Management Training, Brainspotting, Safe and Sound Protocol, SPACE, and, of course, DBT-C, I specialize in treating emotional dysregulation in children. Outside my private practice, I speak at parenting and education conferences across the country, empowering parents with information and tools to raise healthier, happier families. Learn more about me here.
I believe every parent deserves the tools they need to parent their kids calmly and successfully. That’s why I’m so excited to offer DBT-c parenting groups, where parents like you gain the skills you need to bring calm and confidence into your parenting – and true transformation to your child’s emotional health.
Outside my private practice, I speak at parenting and education conferences across the country, empowering parents with information and tools to raise healthier, happier families.
I believe every parent deserves to tap into their innate power to help their children beat anxiety.
That’s why I’m so excited to offer DBT-C , where parents like you gain the skills you need to bring calm and confidence into your parenting – and true transformation to your child’s emotional health.
Join a group
Sign up for 12 one-hour virtual group sessions where you’ll learn how to implement the parenting skills you need to achieve lasting results.
Apply your new skills
With the DBT-C skills group plus thorough post-session worksheets supporting you, you’ll have all the tools you need to start making real change in real life.
Experience the difference
You’ll know exactly what to do. You’ll have the tools to stay calm and positive. And as you apply them, your home life will start improving – while your child becomes a healthy person ready for a happy life.
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Why would I take a SPACE workshop if my child is the one with anxiety?It's natural to wonder why you, as a parent, should attend a workshop when it's your child experiencing anxiety. SPACE is based on the understanding that parents are a key part of the solution. The way you respond to your child’s anxiety can significantly impact their ability to cope and recover. This SPACE workshop will teach you how to empower them to manage and overcome their anxiety on their own.
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Will SPACE work for my child’s specific disorder?SPACE has been found to be effective for children with separation anxiety, social anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobias, illness and health anxiety, panic disorder, agoraphobia, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and other forms of anxiety. If your child suffers from anything on this list, you’ll probably find SPACE deeply helpful.
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Does joining this group mean I’m getting therapy?No. Joining a SPACE group workshop provides you with education and support in implementing a parenting approach that’s been proven to ease child anxiety. While SPACE can be implemented in a therapeutic way, this workshop is educational and doesn’t fall into the same category as individual or family therapy.
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What if I am looking for SPACE therapy?Great! You’ve come to the right place. While the workshop is a great, cost-effective way to start, some families choose to get more individually targeted therapeutic support once they’ve completed the workshop. Other families choose to skip right over the group workshop format and opt to work 1:1 with one of our SPACE-trained therapists.
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What does my child need to do to make this work?Nothing. In SPACE, the primary focus is on changes that parents can make to support their child's anxiety management. You don’t need your child’s cooperation or input at all.
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What if my co-parent isn’t planning to be involved in implementing SPACE?It is helpful if both parents are involved in implementing SPACE, but it’s not a requirement. You can still learn and apply the strategies if you’re parenting alone, or if your co-parent won’t be part of the implementation.
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Does insurance cover SPACE Group Workshop?Insurance does not cover educational groups.
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How do I know if SPACE will work for my child?Extensive clinical research and evidence demonstrates that SPACE works just as well as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), the current gold-standard treatment for child anxiety. A significant proportion of children whose parents participated in SPACE trials were rated “very much” or “much improved” on a clinician-rated improvement scale. Of course, the effectiveness of SPACE can vary depending on individual circumstances like the severity of your child's anxiety and your consistency in applying the strategies.
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What kind of interaction will workshop members have with each other?Workshop members will have opportunities to share experiences, ask questions, and provide support to each other under the guidance of the workshop facilitator – if that’s what they would like to do. While we welcome participant interaction, we recognize that some parents prefer to maintain their privacy. Keeping your video off during the group session is perfectly acceptable.
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What kind of support will I get as part of this group?As part of the SPACE group workshop, you’ll receive a thorough education about the SPACE approach, guidance for implementation, and support from the workshop facilitator and other group members. You’ll also have access to concrete resources and materials to assist you in applying the techniques at home.
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Where can I learn more about SPACE?You can learn more about SPACE by visiting the official website for the SPACE program (https://www.spacetreatment.net/), reading the book "Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD: A Scientifically Proven Program for Parents" by Dr. Eli Lebowitz, or consulting with a mental health professional trained in the SPACE approach.
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Does my child need to be in therapy while I’m taking the SPACE workshop?SPACE creates significant healing and improvement even when children aren’t in therapy. In some cases, SPACE parenting can eliminate the need for therapy. In other cases, especially when a child’s anxiety is extremely severe, or when underlying issues require addressing, therapy can work as an effective partner alongside SPACE parenting.
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Did I cause my child's anxiety?No. Anxiety is influenced by a variety of factors including genetics, temperament, and life experiences. That said, parental accommodations, though byproducts of our love and care for our children, can often unintentionally reinforce their anxiety. The good news is that as a parent, you are the most powerful tool your child has in their battle with anxiety. Through SPACE, you'll learn strategies to support your child in facing their fears, building resilience, and living happier, more functional lives.