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step-upp : empowering teens to thrive

A 12-week skills-building programme to equip teens with confidence, resilience & real-world skills.

Register

Our Groups for 2027

01 February 2027

26 July 2027

This programme is currently offered in person in Cape Town, on Mondays from 18:00 to 20:00.
An online version is coming soon.

Let’s face it: adolescence is no easy journey. Teens today are navigating a complex world of academic pressure, shifting friendships, social media, family expectations and the deeply personal quest to work out who they are. It can feel like a rollercoaster of emotions and experiences, and sometimes it is overwhelming.

That’s where STEP-UPP comes in. Our programme turns these challenges into opportunities for growth, giving teens the skills they need to cope and thrive.

Our mission is clear: to empower teenagers with confidence, resilience and practical skills that support them through adolescence and into adulthood

what is step-upp?

STEP-UPP is a carefully designed 12-week skills-building programme for teens aged 13 to 18.

This isn’t your average youth programme. It blends DBT skills, a globally respected, evidence-based approach to managing emotions, with our own Life Navigation Skills module. Teens begin with Getting Started in week 1, then work through five modules: Mindfulness (weeks 1 and 2), Distress Tolerance (weeks 3 to 5), Emotion Regulation (weeks 6 to 8), Interpersonal Effectiveness (weeks 9 and 10) and Life Navigation Skills (weeks 11 and 12).

Together, these modules address the everyday hurdles teens face, like managing exam stress or sorting out a conflict with a friend, as well as longer-term goals, such as finding a first job or managing money.
Each week, teens meet for two hours with a small group of other teenagers and trained facilitators. The sessions are supportive and interactive, so teens can learn, practise and connect, and the experience stays enjoyable and relevant to their lives.

By the end of the 12 weeks, participants leave with a solid set of skills to handle life’s ups and downs with confidence, both now and in the future.

Step-upp

Why Step-upp?

Backed by more than fifteen years of experience teaching DBT skills to teenagers, Glenbrook Practice has created STEP-UPP to deliver real, practical change.

What sets it apart?
Alongside the evidence-based approach and carefully built curriculum, every teen receives the DBT Step-Upp Skills Workbook (Revised Edition 2027), with its message: Balance your mind. Navigate your life. It brings together the core teaching for all five modules, real-life teen examples, practice exercises, reflection prompts and a personal plan for each module.

The workbook isn’t just a tool for the programme. It is a companion that teens can keep coming back to as they continue to grow.

Why STEP-UPP works for everyone involved:

Parents

The peace of mind that comes with knowing your teen is developing into a resilient, self-assured young person, equipped to handle life’s challenges with maturity and skill.

professionals

A trusted, evidence-based programme that combines clinical rigour with practical application: a well-rounded approach you can confidently recommend.

teens

A chance to take charge of your life, feel understood and build the skills you need to succeed, whether that is acing your next exam or planning your future with clarity.

What's Next?

Stay with us as we explore the STEP-UPP experience in more depth.

We’ll break down each module and skill, giving you a front-row view of how this programme can support your teen’s journey. From emotional strength to practical know-how, STEP-UPP is a strong partner for navigating adolescence with purpose and poise.

Ready to learn more? Reach out today to find out how STEP-UPP can help your teen thrive!

the four dbt modules
life navigation skills
enrolment details
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DBT-Step-Upp ® - 12 Week Adolescent Skills Programme

DBT-Step-Upp ® - Registration & Parent/Guardian Consent

Once the registration form is received, an invoice will be sent to your email address to make the EFT.

Teen Participant Details
Parent / Guardian Details
Current Struggles & Hopes For The Programme
Emergency Contact
Complete this only if the person to alert in an emergency is different from the parent/guardian named on step 2
Current Treating Clinicians (If Any)
DBT-STEP-UPP is a skills-training group led by trained facilitators. It is not a clinical treatment or diagnostic service, and does not replace the role of a psychiatrist, psychologist or counsellor. Please list any current treating clinicians so we can work respectfully alongside them.
Current Psychiatrist
Current Psychologist / Counsellor / Other Treating Clinician
Programme Fees
The fee for the twelve-week DBT-STEP-UPP programme is R8,300. A non-refundable deposit of R4,000 is required on enrolment. The balance is payable when the teen reaches the eighth week of the course. Glenbrook Practice is not contracted to medical aid schemes.
Please read each clause carefully. Ticking the box and signing below confirms that you grant permission for your child to join the programme on these terms.

1. Authorisation for participation
I grant permission to Glenbrook Practice for my child to participate in the twelve-week DBT-STEP-UPP® adolescent skills programme.

2. Distinction of professional roles
I understand that the DBT skills training provided by the facilitators of the DBT-STEP-UPP® skills programme neither replaces nor alters the key-working role of other professionals, such as psychiatrists, psychologists or counsellors, who are currently involved in the child’s care. DBT skills training is distinct in its role: it is a skills-based group programme, not clinical treatment, and is not a diagnostic or treatment service.

3. Intellectual property
The DBT-STEP-UPP® programme, adapted and written for the South African context, is the intellectual property of Glenbrook Practice and is protected by copyright law. All rights are reserved.

4. Limitation of liability
While the facilitator(s) agree to take reasonable measures to ensure the safety and containment of the participant, they shall not be held liable for any self-inflicted injuries, relapses, suicides, or any other harm caused by the client, whether during the sessions or outside those times.

5. Confidentiality and communication
The facilitator(s) shall maintain the confidentiality of information related to the participant. It is agreed that the facilitator(s) have permission to communicate with parents or guardians when necessary. The group itself is skills-based: personal disclosure is not required. The only usual exception is when a member uses a brief real-life example to show how a skill applies.
Group Participation Guidelines
Confidentiality: identities of other participants and anything shared in the room stay in the room.
Punctuality: sessions run Mondays 18:00 to 20:00 at 3 Tiverton Road, Plumstead. Arrival more than 20 minutes late may mean joining at the next session; we will help the teen catch up.
Respectful behaviour: kindness toward peers and facilitators. Strong feelings may be named constructively; verbal abuse or aggression is not tolerated.
Sober participation: a teen arriving under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be asked to leave that session and is welcome the following week.
Participation level: a teen who feels anxious in groups may take part at the level they can manage that day.
The course follows school terms and does not run through school holidays.
Parent / Guardian Signature