Adolescence is a developmental stage where your teen is learning to find their place in the world and navigate responsibilities independently, whilst still needing shelter and nurture from your family system. This is often experienced as a “push and pull” dynamic. Your teen may push away for their independence and pull you in for your caregiving. This dynamic can be emotionally challenging for both teens and parents.
The Growing Together program does not just work with adolescents, it works with parents/guardians too. Adolescents build skills to navigate these challenges independently, while parents are given a framework to stay in the “wiser, stronger, kinder” caregiving role.
Our two groups run simultaneously each week, led by separate facilitators, each with their own evidence-based approach and a shared purpose: a family that feels stronger, more confident, and more connected on the other side.
Adolescent Group: Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for Adolescents (DBT-A)
Our Dialectical Behaviour for Adolescents (DBT-A) program is a small, skills-based group designed to help teenagers (aged 15-18 years) learn to manage strong urges and emotional crises, in a validating, strengths-focused environment. Facilitated by registered psychologists, Khiarn Raymond and Amy Regan, adolescents will learn core skills from DBT including mindfulness, coping with distress, managing strong emotions, avoiding impulsive urges, and communicating more effectively.
The DBT-A program is suitable for adolescents’ experiencing difficulties with mood regulation, excessive anger, impulsivity, relationship challenges, non-lethal self-harm, and passive suicidal thoughts. It is not suitable for those with eating disorders or life-threatening behaviours, for whom more assertive and individualised support would be appropriate.
Parent Group: An Attachment Informed Approach to Restoring Parent Confidence
While your adolescent develops skills in their DBT group, the parallel parent program gives you the tools to reinforce that work at home and to take care of yourself in the process.
The Restoring Parent Confidence component of this program offers support, validation and practical skills to help you strengthen your relationship with your child. It creates a compassionate, non-judgmental space where parents can share experiences, reduce shame, and rebuild hope; moving from crisis-driven reactions toward steady, values-based responses.
Drawing on skills from DBT and attachment theory, this group aims to increase your awareness of your and your teens emotional responses and how they can both be valid despite often being opposite. The program supports a shift away from trying to “fix” your child, toward encouraging their independence and trusting a shared process.
By working collaboratively with accredited counsellor and Parent Hope Project facilitator, Sue Daniel, over the same 9 week period, you will reconnect with your own resilience and rediscover confidence in your parenting.
The Growing Together program runs for 9 weeks over the course of the school term and will be offered several times per year. Please contact The Mind Clinic to arrange your intake assessment for the Growing Together program.
Adolescent Group: Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for Adolescents (DBT-A)
Our Dialectical Behaviour for Adolescents (DBT-A) program is a small, skills-based group designed to help teenagers (aged 15-18 years) learn to manage strong urges and emotional crises, in a validating, strengths-focused environment. Facilitated by registered psychologists, Khiarn Raymond and Amy Regan, adolescents will learn core skills from DBT including mindfulness, coping with distress, managing strong emotions, avoiding impulsive urges, and communicating more effectively.
The DBT-A program is suitable for adolescents’ experiencing difficulties with mood regulation, excessive anger, impulsivity, relationship challenges, non-lethal self-harm, and passive suicidal thoughts. It is not suitable for those with eating disorders or life-threatening behaviours, for whom more assertive and individualised support would be appropriate.
Parent Group: An Attachment Informed Approach to Restoring Parent Confidence
While your adolescent develops skills in their DBT group, the parallel parent program gives you the tools to reinforce that work at home and to take care of yourself in the process.
The Restoring Parent Confidence component of this program offers support, validation and practical skills to help you strengthen your relationship with your child. It creates a compassionate, non-judgmental space where parents can share experiences, reduce shame, and rebuild hope; moving from crisis-driven reactions toward steady, values-based responses.
Drawing on skills from DBT and attachment theory, this group aims to increase your awareness of your and your teens emotional responses and how they can both be valid despite often being opposite. The program supports a shift away from trying to “fix” your child, toward encouraging their independence and trusting a shared process.
By working collaboratively with accredited counsellor and Parent Hope Project facilitator, Sue Daniel, over the same 9 week period, you will reconnect with your own resilience and rediscover confidence in your parenting.
The Growing Together program runs for 9 weeks over the course of the school term and will be offered several times per year. Please contact The Mind Clinic to arrange your intake assessment for the Growing Together program.
The Growing Together group program runs over
9 weeks of the school term.
Where: The Mind Clinic, Balmain
When: Saturday 9.30-11.30am
Next start date: Saturday 9th May 2026
Members: minimum 6
*Note: Groups are culturally sensitive and inclusive, non-religious and non-denominational
Adolescent Group Psychologists
Khiarn Raymond
Clinical Psychologist
BA Psych (Hons), MPsych (Clinical)
Khiarn is a thoughtful and creative clinical psychologist who enjoys working with young people across a variety of difficulties including anxiety, depression, academic stress, self-image, ADHD and Autism.
Khiarn believes groups are a rich source of validation for young people to express themselves and support one another in trying new skills, in a focused and supported therapeutic environment.
Khiarn has experience in facilitating a variety CBT and DBT-based skills groups and works part-time at The Children’s Hospital and Westmead.
Amy Regan
Clinical Psychology Registrar
GradDip Psych, BPsychSci (Hons), MPsych (Clinical), AMACPA
Amy is a compassionate and open-minded clinician who enjoys helping people to realise their potential and find their "life worth living". Amy believes DBT groups are a great way for clients to learn essential life skills (from facilitators and one another), and practice these in a supported, safe way.
Amy has experience facilitating DBT groups in private and public health facilities, including community mental health settings.
Parent Group Counsellor
Sue Daniel
Registered Counsellor MACA
Accredited Mediator
Sue is warm, empathic and collaborative counsellor who uses a non-judgemental approach to help her clients. She is trained in the Parent Hope Project - an attachment-based parenting program that fosters connection and stability in families who are experiencing difficulties managing their children's mental health and/or social/behavioural issues.
Sue loves to witness how groups encourage support and connection amongst people who were previously alone with their overwhelming feelings.
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