Support Groups in Santa Barbara County
If you are interested in participating in a support group, please fill out inquiry form. We will follow up with you and provide you will all of the information you need to participate. Below are days/times we are considering but you will have the opportunity on the inquiry form to suggest others that you think would be better. View our blog to learn about the benefits of participating in a support group.
Groups are held at either the SBCC Wake Center [RM 15] on Turnpike or YouthWell Offices, 1528 Chapala St. [view Map]. Some groups may have hybrid option. Most youth groups are held at Rose Wellness.
Contact us at groups@youthwell.org with questions and comments.
View community calendar for a full schedule of community groups throughout Santa Barbara County.
Groups are FREE to ATTEND. DONATIONS are encouraged to help sustain groups. Any amount is appreciated.
FACILITATORS & ASSOCIATES: Register for facilitator training > View Flyer >
TeachWell group
HOSTED BY YOUTHWELL • view calendar for schedule
Peer support group for teachers of tweens & teens to connect, share challenges, and learn strategies for building trusting relationships with students and get support.
We know that students learn best in relationship with others, and we also know that as they hit the teen years, they begin to pull away from family in favor of peers. They still need adult role models in their lives, so how can we as educators build trust with them and create connections that will enhance their learning environment? Join us to explore how to capitalize on the attributes of the adolescent brain to create trusting relationships.
Fall: Monthly pm TUESDAYS • NOV 14, DEC 12, JAN 9, FEB 13, MARCH 12, APRIL 9, MAY 14, JUNE 11
**TIME: 7pm-8:30pm**
Location: Virtual via zoom (you will receive a link when you register)
ParentConnect group
HOSTED BY YOUTHWELL • view calendar for schedule
A weekly drop-in, peer support group for parents and caregivers of a tween, teen, or young adult struggling with a mental health challenge.
Connect with other parents, practice skills to effectively and compassionately support your child, your family, and yourself, and learn tools to help regulate your emotions.
Sundays, 4:30pm-6:00pm
Location: La Cumbre Plaza
LaunchWell parent group
HOSTED BY YOUTHWELL • view calendar for schedule
A monthly drop-in, peer support group for parents of young adults who are navigating the college years as well as this time of transition as a parent. Focused on strengthening parent-child relationships, setting boundaries, and improving communication.
1st Wed of the month 7:00-8:15pm - Dec 6, Jan 10, Feb 7, Mar 6, Apr 3, May 1
Location: ZOOM/virtual -- Potential to move to in-person near La Cumbre Plaza
ParentWell groups
HOSTED BY YOUTHWELL • view calendar for schedule
VIRTUAL via ZOOM... TUESDAYS - 12pm-1pm
[NEW-weekly] Drop-in group
OVERVIEW: We will discuss all kinds of topics based on the needs of the group each week). This is a skills building support group for parents to learn strategies to help navigate the tween, teen, and young adult years. Focused on strengthening parent-child relationships, improving communication, and promoting family resiliency.
- TUES, JAN 16, 23, 30 Feb 6, 13, 20, 27 -- 12pm-1pm
IN-PERSON at the SBCC Wake Center - MONDAYS - 4:30-6pm
New topics offered in each 3 week series...
[Group is not part of, nor endorsed by Santa Barbara City College.]
OVERVIEW: A 3-week skills building support group for parents to learn strategies to help navigate the tween, teen, and young adult years. Focused on strengthening parent-child relationships, improving communication, and promoting family resiliency. *Contact us if you'd like to put together your own group of parents.
- [3 weeks] DATES: Monday, JAN 8, 15, 22 - IN PERSON
NAVIGATING TWEEN/TEEN [DIGITAL & IN-PERSON] SOCIAL WORLD
WHAT TO EXPECT: Peer relationships are a vital part of the teen years. The people around them influence their social identities and the way they feel about themselves. Navigating the pressures of social media, lack of face to face connection, peer pressure, toxic friendships, and bullying can create added stress for teens and cause social isolation. Learn how to support your teen in setting boundaries in their friendships, navigating screen time and unplugging from their devices.
- - [3 weeks] DATES: Monday, FEB - IN PERSON
UNDERSTANDING THE TEEN BRAIN
WHAT TO EXPECT: Learn about teen brain development, why teens act the way they do, and why identity development is so crucial during these years. Learn about the continuum of mental health, common mental health challenges, what is typical behavior and when to be concerned. Learn tips for helping teens manage their stress and anxiety. Participants will leave with new ideas and a deeper understanding of how to navigate and support their child during the tween, teen, and young adult years.
- - [3 weeks] DATES: Monday, MARCH - IN PERSON
STRENGTHENING PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS
WHAT TO EXPECT: Changes in a teen's development come with big changes in their relationships with parents and family. Learn to strengthen these relationships through active listening and constructive responding. Learn to resolve conflicts in a way that is positive and nurturing. Explore the concept of developmental relationships, and learn how to begin to share power with your teen so they can acquire decision-making skills and accountability for their choices. Learn how to validate your teen while setting and maintaining limits.
- - [3 weeks] DATES: Monday, APRIL - IN PERSON
NAVIGATING TOUGH CONVERSATIONS
WHAT TO EXPECT: As youth become more independent, it can be difficult to navigate outside influences, peer pressure, substance use, risk taking behaviors, and romantic relationships. Learn to be curious and a little uncomfortable in order to engage in your teens world by creating a safe space for them to open up and talk about the things that are important to them.
- - [3 weeks] DATES: Monday, MAY - IN PERSON
NAVIGATING TWEEN/TEEN [DIGITAL & IN-PERSON] SOCIAL WORLD
WHAT TO EXPECT: Peer relationships are a vital part of the teen years. The people around them influence their social identities and the way they feel about themselves. Navigating the pressures of social media, lack of face to face connection, peer pressure, toxic friendships, and bullying can create added stress for teens and cause social isolation. Learn how to support your teen in setting boundaries in their friendships, navigating screen time and unplugging from their devices.
Family Repair group
HOSTED BY YOUTHWELL • view calendar for schedule
**This is similar format to 'PARENTWELL' for those looking for a VIRTUAL class and is open to anyone who wants to learn strategies to help navigate the preschool, elementary, and tween years.**
New topics offered in each 3 week series...
TIMES: 7:00pm-8:30pm
Location: Virtual via Zoom
OVERVIEW: A 3-week skills building support group for parents or caregivers. Learn to recognize your parenting strengths, how to manage stress, and how to handle parenting during conflict. (Great group for parents who have been court-ordered and are facing conflict)
- [3 weeks] DATES: Wednesday, Nov 29, Dec 13, 20
STRENGTHENING PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS
WHAT TO EXPECT: We will talk about how your interactions with a co-parent affect your connection with your child, how to meet your child where they are developmentally and emotionally, what kinds of things you can do to enhance the relationship with your child so that you can weather challenges together, and how to set healthy personal boundaries.
- - [3 weeks] DATES: Wednesday, Jan 10, 17, 24
CONSISTENT PARENTING & SETTING LIMITS - FOLLOW THROUGH WITH CONSEQUENCES
WHAT TO EXPECT: We will look at power-struggles and natural consequences and talk about the difference between punishment and discipline. We will explore how to co-parent with someone who has very different ideas about conflict and consequences, and how to identify which consequences are appropriate. Finally, we will talk about how to engage your child in conversations about learning from mistakes so that they are invested in changing their behavior when necessary.
- - [3 weeks] DATES: Wednesday, February 2024
DE-ESCALATION STRATEGIES FOR CHALLENGING SITUATIONS
WHAT TO EXPECT: Learn ways to prevent conflict from happening with your child and/or co-parent as well as identifying what your personal hooks/triggers/buttons are and how to create strategies for removing anger and fear from these situations. We will talk about disrespect and defiance and how to neutralize arguments as well as learning how to validate your child’s feelings and begin to relate to them in a way that feels supportive for them.
- - [3 weeks] DATES: Wednesday, March 2024
FOUNDATION OF PARENTING:Explore your parenting style, tips and benefits for co-parenting, coping strategies for managing stress.
WHAT TO EXPECT: Take some time to investigate the parenting choices you make and learn whether they are connected to your values or they’re done out of habit. Learn to recognize the social-emotional development milestones for different ages of children and how to identify your preferred communication style, your co-parent’s, and your child’s. Finally, we will talk about different ways to cope with stress and challenges that help to create more harmony in our parent-child relationships and our co-parenting relationships.
TeenWell: ages 14-18
HOSTED BY ROSE WELLNESS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YOUTHWELL • view calendar for schedule
8 week series - Rose Wellness DBT support group for incoming 9th-12th graders focused on skill building in areas of regulating emotions, tolerating stress, and improving relationships! Call 805.394.8533
Next Session: 4pm - SEPTEMBER 18 for 8 weeks
LOCATION: Rose Wellness
YouthConnect: ages 14-25
HOSTED BY YOUTHWELL • view calendar for schedule
[starts in Sept - day/time TBD] weekly drop-in peer support group for teens and young adults (14-17 & 18-25) after treatment to support reintegration into normal life. Connect with others who have experienced similar challenges and get support in the recovery process in a non-judgmental environment. attending a minimum of 1 time a month. Students will learn new skills, and have opportunities to learn about ways to volunteer in the community.
community groups, education, workshops
There are many opportunities to connect and learn. Many of our community organizations offer support groups for parents and youth as well as parent education. View the Community Calendar for a schedule of community groups, trainings, and workshops
Facilitators
If you are interested in being a LEAD Facilitator or a CO-LEAD, please fill out our facilitator application. Register for facilitator training > View Flyer > [Facilitator weekly report form > • Facilitator Portal >]