Oakland DBT and Mindfulness Center

Family and Friends DBT at Oakland Mindfulness Center facilitated by Christine Benvenuto, MFT has enabled my husband and me to learn what our adult child struggling greatly with extreme emotional dysregulation has been learning in DBT class and therapy in another state. We have completed all 3 modules over the last 6 months and because we experienced this class with another highly engaged couple, in a similar circumstance, the learning was even more extensive then we could have hoped for. All components of the DBT modules are interspersed throughout the weekly sessions. Sadly but effectively, the homework always seemed pertinent to an active struggle or challenge we were undergoing. The practices we learned, with regard to validation and emotion regulation, were life-​changing when we started to use them regularly. Also, choosing to use Mindfulness has helped reduce our stress and worry levels greatly. We highly recommend investing the 1.5 hours weekly to learn these life-​skills as they will be taught in a directly relatable way to your unique scenarios.

I spent so many years worrying/​obsessing about other people’s feelings and reactions to me. Oakland DBT gave me the skills and self-​exploration via thoughts and emotions to be more self-​confident, to be comfortable in my own skin and to have a deeper understanding of social interactions. I decided to attend all three modules of the skill set to be a better business owner; to not be so Affected by internal conflicts regarding social situations. DBT gave me the skills to understand why I was have difficulty. A year later, my life is completely different on a daily basis. I no longer suffer from social interactions, I am calm and I am the happiest version of myself I’ve ever been. I’m okay with my emotions and am able to harness them as I now understand them.
DBT was priceless. No other class has helped me more in my life. I enjoyed Lauren as a teacher. I didn’t give 5 stars because the other instructor, Heather, spent too much time talking about herself and this took away from the class experience (in my opinion). However, the classes, themselves, were life changing.
These classes should be mandatory emotional understanding in every high school in America. The result would be function and efficiency for the economy and all industries. As a business person, these classes are invaluable.
If social situations or relationships are challenging for you, I highly recommend taking these classes!

The Oakland DBT and Mindfulness Center significantly changed the lives of my entire family. We had what seemed like endless conflicts, misunderstandings, judgements and a high level of frustration at not knowing what to do to change the unpleasant state. DBT was the answer we were looking for. We were made very comfortable very quickly and felt part of the group despite everyone’s initial misgivings. DBT should be taught in every school in America, as it gives one the tools to recognize how we feel about things as well as the tools to act more effectively. It helped me improve my marriage, my relationships with my kids and my work situation. people have said they really see a big change in me and I am much, much happier, as is my family in general. My wife and I liked the group so much, that we then did the high conflict couples group, so we could keep improving our relationship. It helped a lot. We all still mess up, but we now have a common vocabulary and really helpful behavioral tools (and a process) to understand and also to express how we feel and then how to work on making things better. All I can say is, if you wish things were better in your relationships, this is the best place that I know of to start your journey to a happier future.

Heather MacBeth, one of the co-​founders, is an experienced, kind & wise clinician.
She offers a unique wisdom born of a deep integration of Eastern & Western thought.
I trust her with my whole heart.
The offices are beautiful, discreet, comfortable & conveniently located.

I worked with Heather Macbeth on an individual basis, and I took a six month DBT class with Heather and Lauren Gonzalez. DBT was [I believe] first developed for the treatment of borderline personality disorder and people with suicidal intentions. What I love about Oakland DBT is they are true Bay Area pioneers in bringing this skill set to a wider audience. DBT skills are for emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness and distress tolerance. They are tools for everyday life. Heather and Lauren are lovely, intelligent people. Many a laugh is had in the classes and sessions, and there is an emphasis on actually *practicing* the skills. For example, in the DBT class, there was an emphasis on practicing a new skill during the week and then following-​up in class. That discipline helped me a lot. One further note: I have three kids, and they all know about Radical Acceptance, Check the Facts, Wise Mind, Observe and Describe, Soothe with 5 Senses. These tools – real life-​savers in the ups and downs of ordinary life– are absolutely fantastic for kids, and easy for a parent to teach.