Biweekly IFS/DBT Hybrid Group
Ongoing Enrollment
The class we’ve all needed yet didn’t get . . .
understanding and releasing our emotions,
learning how to unburden and lead parts of ourselves that are disconnected,
regulating our nervous systems thru awareness and creating a compassionate inner system.
For Groups, we accept Aetna, United Healthcare. If you are a current client and have a different insurance please reach out directly to Jen at ask@JenniferMele.com
$50/session private pay
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Thank you so much for leading such a fulfilling and reflective group!”
“Brilliant!!”
What is DBT?
DBT stands for Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Created by Marsha Linehan, DBT is a mindfulness and evidence based treatment that combines some of the most effectives emotion regulation techniques out there and teaches them in simple steps.
Consider us your virtual yet very real group members here to learn, support & connect.
All that’s needed is a little willingness in showing up. The skills taught are broken up into manageable steps using handouts, images, experiential practices. Practical, scientific as well as holistic and intuitive information is a part of this psychoeducation class.
WHO IS THIS GROUP FOR?
✨ If you’re looking for a language to understand your inner family which includes your emotions, protectors/survival system, sensation, thoughts, self-led parts and more.
✨ If you want to feel more focused, clear, attentive and present in your confident Self in your daily life.
✨ If you are finding anxiety and depression symptoms overwhelming or the opposite, maybe you feel disconnected or numb
✨ If you want to stop avoiding and get in touch with your body, out of your head and alleviate parts that are suffering
✨ If other treatments and group therapy haven’t worked for you the hybrid of Internal Family Systems and Dialectical Behavior Therapy are transformational working from the inside out and the outside in together.
✨If you’re ready to experience, real, tangible, trackable results specific to your unique goals.
✨ If you want to change how you communicate with yourself and others, we learn skills with this and also how to communicate with our parts
✨If you are having troubling accepting your current circumstances, we learn all parts are welcome and also what to do when reality is unmanageable.
✨ If your emotions feel too intense and last for a really longtime and you feel like you go from 0 to 100
✨If you are looking for more peace, communication in your relationships and also want to have boundaries and get your needs met too.
✨If you need to learn how to say no, keep your self respect and understand how to manage demands, priorities, needs and circumstances you can’t change in relationships.
✨If you are a person who likes to learn using different mediums.
✨If you are looking to work more on your relationships in the outside world through the process of a group with like-minded individuals
✨If you have shame, group work helps to reduce it by normalizing experiences and learning a language that explains what’s going on
✨If you’ve done DBT before and you’d like to see it through the lens of parts work. Or vice versa! These concepts are really interesting when we dive in this way!
Life does have pain, however we can reduce our suffering by learning and practicing living in the present moment, in the now.
The skills taught are practical, evidence based, science based and will give you direct experience and steps to taking control over your life. This is also a psychoeducational group.
What this means is that to maintain the safety and emotional regulation of the group, you will be learning the skills, asking questions, receiving coaching and framing your current experience through parts language and emotion regulation language as not to trigger others parts.
The goal of the group is to learn the skills and we can’t do that if we are feeling dysregulated. Though of course it happens and then we can practice using what we’ve learned and asking for help.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Virtual Group Support
This is a safe, confidential space. While considered a form of psychotherapy, this is a psychoeducation group, not a processing group.
This means the main format is skills training and experiential practices which includes teaching concepts, going through examples, receiving coaching and feedback to help you integrate the skill and doing holistic mind body practices including art and movement as different aspects of creative mindfulness.
Mindfulness Practice in each Session
The best way to learn is to experience what we are talking about. You will build a mindfulness practice that works with who you are, what pace you need and your own goals. We practice at the beginning of each session so come a few minutes early to settles in :) If something comes up during your mindfulness practice, feel free to personally chat me. I give instructions at many levels and am cognizant of doing short practices to help clients get use to the process.
Orientation Intake Session
Schedule prior to the group start date - insurance accepted for intakes!
Support & staying
accountable with others who can validate and relate.
YOUR INSTRUCTOR AND SKILLS TRAINER
JEN MELE LCSW CYT-200
Artist, Group Facilitator, Skills Trainer, Supervisor, Continuing Educator
Jen has taught countless groups, lessons and skills over the past 18 years.
“I started with an internship in DBT in 2008 because I was looking for a treatment that was mindfulness focused. Who knew the luck I would have in finding the team and these skills.”
“Then I started learning Internal Family Systems personally and couldn’t believe the transformation it provided! I eventually began using it with clients who were able to go into their deepest work because of this,
Jen has taught thousands with her warm, conscious and down to earth personality and has captivated many with her speaking engagements and training events.
Her integrative perspective addresses the whole body and brings you out of your head and into your heart. The left brain, the right brain and what goes beyond, Jen brings her unique flavor to the skills including the creative arts, yoga & movement.
Education & Credentials:
Masters from Rutgers School of Social Work 2010
Bachelors from Boston University Cum Laude with Mindfulness & Contemplative Studies Concentration 2004
Certified Yoga Teacher 200 Hr 2015
Reiki Healer Level II
Adjunct Professor Rutgers
Presenter Universities, Schools, Continuing Education Courses and Learning Conferenes
THE BASICS
IFS/DBT Hybrid Group Meets on Zoom
6:30-7:30 pm EST every otherTuesday
Your registration to the group will include:
New Lessons for each week
Skills Training Handouts & Worksheets using different learning aids like images, video, music and more
Mindfulness Practices
Q&A and Troubleshooting with Instructor
Skills coaching on individual examples
THE MODULES BELOW ARE DBT MODULES
We pull skills from here and merge them with concepts of IFS.
There are also images and a meditation example of IFS.
DBT SKILLS
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Mindfulness skills make up the core of the DBT program. Learning how to become more present, accepting and non-judgmental toward your inner and outer experiences is taught in sampled, practical steps.
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This module specifically addresses everything you need to know about understandingyour emotional experience. You will learn how to reduce the intensity, duration and your vulnerability to strong emotions and skillsl to help release them so they don’t build up.
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This module helps you to manage your emotions in difficult situations and painful experiences that can’t currently be changed. Skills here help us to self soothe, tip our body chemistry and tolerate one moment to the next without making it worse.
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This module helps us to keep, maintain and build closer relationships while also understanding how to create safe boundaries, ask for what you want and say no to what you don’t. These skills help prevent emotions from building up over time in relationships as well.
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Walking the middle path teaches dialectics, DBT’s namesake and how to understand how to hold two opposing ideas at the same time. Validation skills (how to communicate understanding and empathy to yourself and another person) is taught along side behaviorism (how to create natural change within yourself and others).
IFS SKILLS
What Other Clients Have Shared . . .
I’ve been working with Jen for almost 2 years, both in 1-1 sessions and in a group over Zoom, and she is incredibly empathetic, and very communicative. She has a very multifaceted approach that incorporates movement, DBT, and art exercises and is flexible based on your needs at any given session. Jen’s approach has truly prepared me with skills that have improved my day-to-day life navigating emotions and relationships. Beyond that, she is incredibly encouraging and has been with me every step of the way - I cannot recommend her enough!
by KM
Jen is professional, compassionate, and responsive. I've been seeing her for years, and I feel like her practice has evolved in all the right ways. She backs up her methods with research, and over the years, she has incorporated IFS parts work, DBT, mindfulness, yoga/movement, art therapy and more. Her multi-faceted approach helps me arrive at new understandings, and she encourages me to take the strategies I learn with her into my everyday life. As an adult who carries the scars of childhood trauma, I also appreciate that she sees us as partners in my recovery. She helps me set challenging but achievable weekly goals, and as a result, I can recognize my progress, and I learn more and more about my own wants and needs as well as how to advocate for them.
by CS
The work I have done with Jen has changed my life and her professionalism and commitment far exceeds any therapist I have seen in the past. The combination of DBT, movement/yoga, and art therapy has given me strength and tools I didn’t know I had for coping. I was fairly skeptical at the beginning of our work together, as it was all new to me. Jen has held my hand and beyond all of the great professional support; she is just a kind, non-judgemental person to talk to.
by DC
I truly look forward to my sessions with Jen! I started seeing Jen for regular therapy sessions in November 2021. Jen creates a welcoming, accepting, and creative space- even over a virtual platform. She is extremely knowledgeable and professional. I enjoy learning and exploring DBT, parts work, family systems, mindfulness, movement, and creative practices in sessions. I even feel comfortable and motivated to carryover these strategies and practices outside of sessions. Overall, I notice a genuine difference in my general thinking patterns and overall confidence since seeing Jen!
Jen is one of a kind. She is patient, understanding, and kind. She has the ability to connect with others. Her approaches and techniques are always relevant. She offers tools and strategies that are extremely helpful to use in the real world. Hands down, Jen is absolutely the best, and anyone would be lucky to get the chance to work with her.
by TB
"Thank you for being so kind, patient, and an amazing teacher.
I feel exponentially grateful in this moment (and many moments)
that our paths have crossed in life." - K.S
“ I'm filled with immense gratitude for everything that I've learned thus far and for Jen being such an instrumental part of my journey.” C.W
"Thank you for tonight! It moved me in ways I could have never imagined."- G.L.
Ready to join the group?
Cost
Insurances Accepted: Aetna, United
Healthcare$50 per group private pay
Out of Network Benefits Accepted
NJ, NY, FL
Questions? Contact Jen.
Please reach out and and I’'ll be happy to answer any of your questions!