Unspoken to Empowered: Women’s Group Therapy Spotlight

“Group therapy is just as, if not more, effective than individual therapy.”

It’s a powerful truth that often surprises those new to the idea of group work. For many women, healing begins not in isolation, but in community—through shared stories, deep empathy, and collective strength. Group therapy also provides a powerful antidote to stigma around mental health. 

What Is the Women’s Psychotherapy Group?

Our Women’s Psychotherapy Group offers a powerful and supportive space for healing, connection, and personal growth. Grounded in shared experiences and mutual support, the group provides a unique opportunity to explore emotional, relational, and societal challenges within a safe, structured environment. Over time, members learn to challenge internalized criticism and practice authentic self-care.

Who Is This Group For?

This group is for women seeking connection, healing, and personal development. Women from all backgrounds and life stages are welcome. The diversity of perspectives strengthens the group and expands everyone’s emotional insight.

Group therapy is particularly impactful for those healing from trauma. In a compassionate and contained environment, witnessing others’ resilience can inspire hope and support the healing process. As relationships form within the group, members practice setting boundaries, building trust, and developing healthier interpersonal patterns—skills that often translate into improved relationships outside the group.

Whether you’re navigating anxiety, grief, trauma, or simply seeking deeper self-understanding, this group provides a unique environment to be seen, heard, and supported by others who understand.

What to Expect in Group

Sessions include open sharing, guided reflections, and skill-building work that helps members apply insights outside of the group. As trust grows, participants explore meaningful topics like boundaries, vulnerability, and self-worth. With the guidance of an experienced facilitator, the group becomes a place to witness growth—in yourself and others.

Meet the Facilitator: Amelia Howard-Smith, LMFT

Amelia Howard-Smith, LMFT, leads the Women’s Group with over a decade of clinical experience. Her approach combines warmth and structure, drawing from DBT and CBT techniques. Amelia is passionate about helping women heal from trauma, reduce anxiety, and find empowerment through connection and self-discovery. Above all, Amelia is committed to helping women reclaim their voice and move toward empowerment with compassion and clarity.

Why Join a Women’s Therapy Group?

Healing happens in connection. When women come together with honesty and intention, they create a space where growth is more than possible. In this group, you’ll find strength in shared experience, relief in being understood, and momentum toward the changes you want to make.

Participants may also gain:

  • A deeper understanding of personal patterns and emotional triggers
  • Motivation and encouragement through shared accountability
  • New perspectives from diverse life experiences
  • Confidence in voicing thoughts and feelings openly
  • A sense of shared purpose and mutual growth within the group

If this sounds right for you, reach out to us to schedule an appointment or learn more. Leave us a message or call us at (415) 945 -9870.

Don’t Go It Alone: Increasing Connections Group Therapy Spotlight

“If you nourish your body and mind but neglect your relationships, your overall health may be compromised. In contrast, prioritizing your connection—in addition to habits that support your physical and mental health—can help you live longer, healthier, and happier.”
 — Kasley Killam, UC Berkeley Greater Good Science Center

Most of us accept that exercise and balanced meals keep us well. Yet the “third pillar” of health, social health, can often slip to the bottom of the priority list. Social scientist Kasley Killam reminds us that feeling cared for, understood, valued, and like we belong is crucial to well‑being. For anyone who senses a gap between themselves and the people (or purposes) that matter most, our Increasing Connections group therapy was designed for you.

Why We Created the Group

Modern life can leave even the most outgoing person feeling isolated: demanding schedules, social‑media fatigue, or the fear of showing up authentically can all erode meaningful bonds. Increasing Connections helps members:

  • Identify personal and external barriers to relationships and connection
  • Practice new ways of relating, both to themselves and to others, inside a supportive, space
  • Build a toolkit for sustaining those connections long after group ends

Who Should Join?

  • Anyone who feels disconnected from friends, family, community, spirituality, or their own authentic self
  • Individuals noticing loneliness despite a “busy” social calendar
  • People whose anxiety, self‑criticism, or conflicting values make it hard to show up fully with others

What Happens in a Typical Session?

Each session starts with a check-in where members share their current emotion and note any successes or challenges from the past week. Participants then spend a few minutes journaling on a prompt before coming together for a group discussion. During these discussions, members practice building connections with peers in real time while exploring common barriers to connection, such as conflicting values, anxiety, compromised self-care, overuse of social media, assumptions, fear of authenticity, and self-criticism. The meeting ends with a check-out, during which everyone names one specific way they plan to apply what they learned over the next week to build their relationships.

Meet the Facilitators

Emily Clark, LCSW
A licensed clinical social worker with 10 years’ experience across ages and diagnoses, Emily has seen one constant: authentic connection is the thread that raises life satisfaction. She brings a warm, structured style that gently nudges members past their comfort zones.

Mina Dailami, PhD
Mina is a postdoctoral fellow who’s passionate about helping people connect more to the people, values, and practices that bring a deeper sense of fulfillment. She invites members to practice together with a person‑centered, culturally sensitive lens.

Voices from the Group

“The journaling prompts generated a very insightful discussion.”

“They really prompted some deep thought for me.”

Even brief written reflections can unlock surprisingly profound dialogue, and the group’s safety net lets members test new ways of sharing without judgment.

What You’ll Take Away

  • Awareness of the personal habits and beliefs that block connection
  • In‑the‑moment skills for staying present, even when anxiety flares
  • Experiential confidence from practicing authentic relating in session

If you’re ready to move from feeling separate to feeling supported, we’d love to welcome you to the group.

Ready to Increase Your Connections?

To learn more, contact our front desk at (415) 945 -9870 or leave us a message.

What is DBT Mindfulness? Mindfulness Skills Group Spotlight

In today’s fast-paced world, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by stress, emotional pain, and reactivity. Our DBT Mindfulness Skills Group offers a structured, evidence-based approach to help you slow down, tune in, and respond more skillfully to life’s challenges.

What Is DBT Mindfulness?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a research-backed therapeutic model that combines acceptance and change strategies to help individuals manage intense emotions, improve relationships, and reduce suffering. Mindfulness is the foundational skill in DBT, teaching you to stay present, observe your internal experiences without judgment, and act with awareness. 

In this group, we focus on the core mindfulness skills: 

  • Observe: Notice your thoughts, emotions, and sensations without trying to change them.
  • Describe: Put words to your experiences to gain clarity and insight.
  • Participate: Fully engage in the present moment with openness and curiosity.
  • Non-judgmentally: Let go of evaluations and accept experiences as they are.
  • One-mindfully: Focus on one thing at a time to enhance effectiveness.
  • Effectively: Do what works, aligning actions with your goals and values.

Who Should Join?

This group is designed for adults who struggle with emotional regulation, anxiety, or mood swings; feel overwhelmed by stress or interpersonal conflicts; or simply seek to develop greater self-awareness and resilience. No prior mindfulness experience is necessary—just a willingness to learn and grow within a supportive community.

What to Expect

Each weekly session includes a guided mindfulness practice to help center and ground participants, followed by teaching of specific DBT mindfulness skills. Group discussions offer a space to explore personal experiences and insights, while practical exercises encourage applying new skills in daily life.

Benefits of Joining

Participants often report:

  • Increased emotional awareness and regulation.
  • Reduced impulsivity and reactivity.
  • Enhanced ability to cope with stress and distress.
  • Improved relationships through better communication and presence.
  • More frequent experiences of connectedness to others and self 

About the Facilitator

Betsy Klinger, a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Clinical Supervisor at E Street House, leads the DBT Mindfulness Skills Group. She brings extensive experience providing individual, group, and family therapy for adolescents and adults.

Betsy holds degrees from Saint Joseph’s University and the University of Denver, and has worked in residential treatment centers, private practice, and outpatient clinics. She specializes in treating PTSD, anxiety, depression, personality disorders, and life transitions, integrating Psychodynamic Theory, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) into her approach. Her passion lies in empowering clients with practical tools to enhance emotional regulation and overall well-being.

Call us at (415) 945-9870 or leave us a message through our contact form to learn more.

How to Recover: Stress & Addiction Group Spotlight

In 2020, an estimated 40.3 million individuals aged 12 or older in the United States—representing 14.5% of this population—experienced a substance use disorder (CDC, 2023). Often, these disorders occur alongside other mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and personality disorders, as individuals turn to substances or behaviors to cope with emotional distress. At our clinic, we offer a specialized group designed specifically to address the intricate connection between stress and addiction, guiding participants toward deeper understanding and healthier coping strategies.

What to Expect from Our Group

Our supportive, 80-minute process group provides a nurturing environment where members can openly share experiences, reflect on their behaviors, and offer compassionate, non-judgmental feedback to peers. The group structure encourages participants to explore their thoughts, emotions, and patterns related to substance use and stress.

Each session begins with a personal check-in, allowing group members to discuss their current mood, recent stress levels, contributing stressors, and experiences with cravings or substance use urges. This opens the door for a meaningful discussion about how stress directly influences addiction.

Our Approach

We utilize an integrative, culturally-sensitive, and trauma-informed approach, ensuring that all participants feel respected, safe, and understood. Our integrative approach combines various therapeutic modalities tailored to individual needs, recognizing that each person’s journey toward healing is unique. By being culturally sensitive, we actively acknowledge and respect the diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences of each group member, ensuring that interventions are meaningful and inclusive. Additionally, our trauma-informed approach prioritizes creating a secure environment, understanding how past traumas may impact current behaviors and emotional responses, and empowering participants by giving them a sense of control and choice throughout the healing process.

Meet Your Facilitator: Alex

Alex, our dedicated facilitator, brings a blend of professional clinical expertise and personal insight from her own recovery journey. Passionate about helping group members uncover the deeper factors driving their struggles, Alex provides guidance and encouragement, empowering participants to move forward with strength and clarity.

Key Insights & Takeaways

While it’s common to identify external stressors such as relationship conflicts, workplace pressures, or societal expectations as triggers, our group delves deeper to recognize the internal stressors fueling addictive behaviors. Participants gain essential skills and practical tools for managing stress effectively, fostering resilience, and reinforcing their recovery journey.

Join us in building a supportive path toward lasting healing and healthier living. Call us at (415) 945-9870 or leave us a message through our contact form to learn more.

Emotions & Compulsions Group Spotlight

How likely would you be to grab a tool that could help you reduce your negative self-talk and the potential of relapse into addictive behaviors? Emotions & Compulsions Group could be just that. Studies continuously show that clients who attend sessions and practice Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) can restructure their thoughts, significantly improving their commitment to abstain from addictive behaviors.

Our Emotions & Compulsions group is based on the therapeutic model of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), created by Albert Ellis in the 1950s, often referred to as the “grandparent” of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

REBT is an action-based therapy designed to help individuals identify and change irrational beliefs fueling addictive behaviors. It effectively promotes healthier thought patterns and builds a robust framework for relapse prevention.

Overview of the Group

People who benefit from REBT include those with substance use disorders, behavioral addictions (e.g., gambling, compulsive shopping, internet porn, gaming), and co-occurring mental health issues such as anxiety or depression. REBT is suitable for individuals of all ages, providing a structured approach to managing thoughts and emotions, making it accessible for adolescents, adults, and older adults.

Each MTC group session includes a brief mindfulness exercise, a check-in about emotions, compulsions, and any REBT tools used in the past week, followed by a live demonstration or exercise to help clients apply REBT tools to their personal challenges.

Humor is integral to our groups. Albert Ellis emphasized identifying ourselves as “FHBs”—Fallible Human Beings—which encourages a lighter perspective on our challenges. REBT also has a spiritual dimension, highlighting self-acceptance, acceptance of others, and universal acceptance.

Facilitator Spotlight

Jacqueline Perlmutter is an addiction specialist, spiritual director, and certified ecotherapist specializing in holistic, integrated care. Jacqueline brings extensive experience in evidence-based approaches, including:

  • Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)
  • Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Radical Self-Acceptance
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Family systems therapy
  • Ecopsychology

She has trained directly with Albert Ellis, PhD (founder of REBT), Dr. Debbie Joffe Ellis (REBT expert and Columbia University professor), and Tom Horvath, PhD (co-founder of SMART Recovery). Jacqueline is also a certified SMART Recovery facilitator.

As someone in long-term recovery herself, Jacqueline passionately believes in the potential for lasting change through community support, therapeutic skills, committed practice, and professional care.

Testimonial

Here’s what one of our past participants shared:

“REBT is relatively simple to grasp, and I had fun disputing what I came to see as my irrational thinking. I got sober at Mind Therapy Clinic and still use my REBT tools to stay sober.” – former Emotions & Compulsions group member

Key Takeaways

For many, REBT stops negative thought patterns that lead to addictive or compulsive behaviors.

Skills and insights participants may gain:

  • Improved emotional regulation: Manage emotional responses by recognizing and altering irrational beliefs, fostering calmness in stressful situations.
  • Enhanced coping skills: Learn practical strategies to handle daily stressors logically, reducing emotional overreactions.
  • Rational thinking and effective problem-solving: Identify and counter cognitive distortions, approaching challenges with clarity.
  • Reduced anxiety and depression symptoms: Address irrational beliefs driving anxiety and depression, significantly decreasing symptoms.
  • Boosted self-acceptance and confidence: Adopt rational beliefs that encourage self-compassion, resilience, and empowerment.
  • Increased humor and acceptance: Learn to embrace being a Fallible Human Being, promoting a lighter and more forgiving perspective on life.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Join our Emotions & Compulsions group today and discover how REBT can help you build a healthier, more fulfilling life. Contact Mind Therapy Clinic to schedule your first session. Want to learn more about our approach to addiction treatment? Read more here!

The Next Right Thing Group Spotlight

Changing a behavior can be challenging, especially when the path forward is unclear. Even when the best course of action seems obvious, following through can still be difficult.

The Next Right Thing group at Mind Therapy Clinic provides a supportive, judgment-free space to explore unhealthy coping patterns—such as drug and alcohol use or other compulsive behaviors. The group helps members increase their motivation for change and teaches practical strategies for making healthier life choices.

Who is This Group For?

This group is designed for adults (18+) who are either contemplating a change or actively working on improving their relationship with substances or compulsive behaviors. Whether you’re exploring potential changes or already committed to making healthier decisions, this group offers both support and practical guidance.

What to Expect in a Session

Each session begins with members checking in, sharing their current thoughts and feelings, and responding to a prompting question provided by the facilitators. An open discussion follows, allowing participants to share their successes, challenges, and experiences related to identifying and taking the next right steps in their recovery.

Facilitators guide the conversation, helping group members explore and deepen their understanding of topics that emerge during discussions. Each session concludes with participants identifying actionable takeaways they intend to implement in their daily lives.

Facilitator Spotlight: Matt Blagys, Ph.D. & Mina Dailami, Ph.D.

Dr. Matt Blagys is a Licensed Psychologist and Clinical Director at Mind Therapy Clinic, specializing in helping individuals overcome self-destructive habits and co-occurring mental health and substance use issues. Dr. Blagys brings compassion, validation, and humor to group facilitation, gently challenging members to confront their struggles and take proactive steps toward meaningful change.

Dr. Mina Dailami is a Postdoctoral Psychology Fellow with a focus on trauma-informed care. She works with individuals in group settings to address complex trauma, personality disorders, and mental health challenges. Dr. Dailami fosters a supportive and collaborative environment, helping group members create meaningful change, build healthier relationships, and align their lives with their core values.

What Participants Have Experienced

One recent participant utilized the group to deeply reflect on her relationship with substances. By exploring the pros and cons of her substance use, understanding her motivations, and examining behavioral patterns, she decided to pursue positive changes. With group support, she identified her next steps and felt encouraged in her healing journey.

Reflecting on her experience, she shared:

“It was really helpful to have a place that focuses on substances and meets you wherever you’re at—even if you don’t identify as an addict.” (The facilitators) ” are really supportive and helpful in their comments. They have created a really safe space in which to be vulnerable.“It was really helpful to have a place that focuses on substances and meets you wherever you’re at—even if you don’t identify as an addict… [The facilitators] are really supportive and helpful in their comments. They have created a really safe space in which to be vulnerable.””

Why Join?

Benefits of participating in the Next Right Thing group include:

  • A supportive, non-judgmental environment to explore relationships with substances and compulsive behaviors
  • Recognition that you’re not alone, sharing experiences with others facing similar struggles
  • Increased motivation and renewed hope for meaningful change
  • Insights into personal motivations driving unhelpful behaviors
  • New strategies and valuable information to help break unhealthy patterns
  • Ongoing support and practical advice for overcoming the challenges of behavior change
  • Empowerment to take charge and accept responsibility for your life

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you’re interested in joining the Next Right Thing group or would like more information about how Mind Therapy Clinic can support your journey, please contact us today. We’re here to help you find clarity, build confidence, and make meaningful changes.

Feeling Overwhelmed by the News? How to Protect Your Mental Well-being

With constant news updates and major events unfolding daily, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the state of the world around us. Periods of uncertainty and change can amplify feelings of anxiety, stress, and unease. At Mind Therapy Clinic, we understand the profound impact such times can have on your mental health and are here to support you.

Understanding the Emotional Impact

Major events and societal shifts can lead to a range of emotional responses, including:

  • Anxiety and Worry: Concerns about the future and the unknown.
  • Depression: Feelings of sadness or hopelessness.
  • Irritability: Increased frustration or anger.
  • Fatigue: Emotional exhaustion and lack of energy.

Recognizing these feelings is the first step toward managing them effectively.

Healthy Coping Strategies

To navigate these challenging times, consider the following approaches:

  • Limit Information Overload: Set specific times to check news and social media to prevent constant exposure.
  • Practice Mindfulness: Engage in activities like meditation, deep breathing, or yoga to center yourself.
  • Stay Connected: Reach out to friends, family, or support groups to share your feelings and experiences.
  • Maintain Routine: Establish a daily schedule to provide structure and a sense of normalcy.
  • Engage in Physical Activity: Regular exercise can boost mood and reduce stress.

Support at Mind Therapy Clinic

If you’re finding it challenging to manage these feelings on your own, professional support can make a significant difference. At Mind Therapy Clinic, we offer a range of services tailored to your needs:

  • Individual Psychotherapy: Work one-on-one with our experienced therapists to explore your feelings and develop coping strategies.
  • Group Therapy: Connect with others facing similar challenges in a supportive group setting.
  • Family Therapy: Address and improve family dynamics and communication.
  • Psychiatry: Work with our skilled psychiatrists for help with medication.
  • Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): For those needing more structured support, our IOP offers a comprehensive approach to mental health care.

Our New Location

To better serve our community, we’ve recently moved to a new, more spacious facility:

100 Tamal Plaza, Suite 200, Corte Madera, CA 94925

This location is designed to provide a comfortable and welcoming environment for all our clients.

Take the Next Step

Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength, and you don’t have to navigate these challenges alone. Our dedicated team at Mind Therapy Clinic is here to support you on your journey toward well-being.

Call us today at (415) 945-9870 or leave a message through our secure contact form to learn more about our services and schedule an appointment.

Together, we can work toward a healthier, more balanced life.