Next Group Starts Wednesday January 29, 2026!
Emotion Surfing
Adolescent DBT Skills Group
How Can This Group Help Me?
Our emotions can feel like literal tsunamis that come out of nowhere, pour hard over us, and leave behind a lot of chaos and wreckage. Even when the waves eventually settle, there is often a lasting impact on how we feel about ourselves (regret or shame about choices made) and/or on the stability of our relationships with others. This group teaches Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) skills which are skills to help you cope with these waves of emotion more effectively.
The Emotion Surfing group was designed to help you:
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Surf emotion waves instead of drowning or getting knocked over by them
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Experience emotions as waves (not tsunamis)
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Enjoy the process of surfing (life) between and during the waves
For more information on what DBT is, check out this helpful video: What is DBT?
Session Content
"You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf."
- Jon Kabat-Zinn
We cover 3 modules with the aim to prevent emotions from getting in the way of building a life worth living:
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Mindfulness: helps you build awareness of what you are feeling & thinking in the moment
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Distress tolerance: helps you safely endure intense emotions without making them worse
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Emotion regulation: helps you understand and feel in control of your emotions and reduce emotional suffering
This is NOT the type of group therapy where we talk about your deepest, darkest secrets or do a deep dive into individual & family issues.
This group will feel more like an interactive classroom amongst peers who likely have struggles and/or experiences that you can relate to.
The general structure of each group is:
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Mindfulness exercise
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Review skills from the previous week
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Break
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Learn new skills
Session Calendar
Emotion Surfing Adolescent DBT Skills Group
Groups will be offered (with a rolling intake process) beginning in January 2026
Next Group Starts Wednesday January 29, 2026!
Teen Group
When: Eight Wednesdays from 5 - 7 pm
Who Attends: Teens only
Where: Cedar Park Professional Building, 2931 66th Street, Edmonton, T6K 4C1
Parent Group
When: One Saturday: typically from 10 - 3pm
Who Attends: Parents only
Where: Cedar Park Professional Building, 2931 66th Street, Edmonton, T6K 4C1
Note: Group sessions are all held in-person
Cost & Insurance
The total cost for the program is $1485.00. This includes:
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Intake Session - $235.00 → Due on date of intake
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Group Sessions - $1250.00 ($125 x 10 sessions) → Due upon acceptance into the program (following intake)
Payment method: E-transfer to drjoannabolster1@gmail.com
This program is eligible for coverage through extended healthcare benefits. Digital receipts are issued after each session. For sessions involving parents (intake, parent group, multifamily group), receipts can be put in the name of either parent or teen based on your preference/benefit allowance. If your child/family has FNIHB/NIHB/IRS coverage, please reach out to Dr. Bolster directly.
Group Leaders
Dr. Joanna Bolster
Dr. Bolster is a Registered Psychologist with her own practice located on the south side of Edmonton. She has been licensed as a Psychologist & has been working with adults as well as youth & families for 25 years. Her training & practice have afforded her opportunities to work in hospitals through to private practice, in front line treatment provision, consultation, teaching & supervision roles. Dr. Bolster has been training and working in DBT for almost 2 decades & is currently pursuing becoming a Linehan Certified DBT Clinician - the highest level of certification within the practice of DBT. She has run skills groups through both hospital & community settings & enjoys working alongside teens & their families as they learn & practice needed skills; building fun, creativity, authenticity & compassion on top of a solid foundation of evidence based practices. Dr Bolster has co-facilitated this specific skills group for teens for four years with more than 60 families having moved through our program.
Dr Bolster will be joined by another psychologist and student observer as co-facilitators.
Book Intake Session
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Complete the PRE-INTAKE QUESTIONNAIRE
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Book in your intake assessment - You will be prompted to book after completion of Pre-Intake Questionnaire.
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Attend your intake assessment - an important “get to know you” session where we review crucial information about the program, answer any questions, and determine if our program might be right “fit” for your needs. We ask that parents AND teens attend.