Menu
In a mental health crisis? Call or text 988.
Get Help at CHC 
DBT Groups Offer a Lifeline
Ten Years of Mental Health Support at Ravenswood
CHC Ravenswood, founded ten years ago under the Children’s Health Council (CHC), has been a beacon of hope for the communities of East Palo Alto and east Menlo Park. Its inception came at a crucial time when these areas were designated as “Health Professional Shortage Areas,” forcing residents to travel outside of their own community to receive critical care, including mental and behavioral health services. Many families simply did not access care due to transportation, work, stigma, language barriers, and distrust.
The Early Days
In those early days, CHC Ravenswood started small. The team consisted of a few bilingual staff members who focused on consultation services, psychoeducation, case management, and evaluations, working closely with partners like the Ravenswood City School District and local organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula. The goal was to build trust within the community while providing culturally relevant services at no cost. Over the past decade, these services have grown dramatically. In 2023, over 500 families were impacted. Two hundred seventy-six families received consultations or case management support, and 76 youth clients received ongoing no-cost outpatient therapy.
The goal was to build trust within the community while providing culturally relevant services at no cost. Over the past decade, these services have grown dramatically. In 2023, over 500 families were impacted.
One of the key milestones in CHC Ravenswood's growth was opening its in-person clinic in the heart of the community, providing a welcoming space for families to receive individual, family, and group therapy. The clinic also became a training ground for students from prestigious programs such as Stanford, Palo Alto University, and the University of San Francisco, helping to build a pipeline of bilingual and bicultural therapists who understand the unique challenges facing the Ravenswood community.
The Sunshine Room at the Ravenswood offices
The Evolution
As CHC Ravenswood evolved, it continued to listen closely to the needs of families served and the community. There was a growing waitlist of families interested in individual therapy and a need to support emotional regulation and managing intense feelings, particularly among teens and young adults. This is where Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) came into play. DBT is a type of talk therapy that can be done in groups to help people accept difficulties they face and support them in learning to change their lives by focusing on unhealthy behaviors.
DBT was first introduced at CHC Ravenswood by Clinical Program Manager Dr. Zahra Murtaza. Having seen its success in other settings, she believed it could be particularly effective in meeting the specific needs of Ravenswood’s diverse population. It would also allow people on the CHC Ravenswood waitlist to receive help while waiting for individual therapy. DBT was originally designed for adults and has been adapted for middle and high school students.
From left: Divier Wallace, Danna Torres, Zahra Murtaza, Cynthia Martinez
However, in order to address the clinical needs at the CHC Ravenswood clinic (including a waitlist comprising of elementary schoolers), Dr. Murtaza and her team adapted the DBT skills for younger children, several of whom were in 4th or 5th grade. Parents were offered DBT training concurrently, so that children and parents were trained in similar skills, including paced breathing, mindfulness, and emotion identification.
The Impact
One of the most heartwarming success stories to come out of the DBT program involves a young student struggling with behavioral issues at school. Before starting DBT, he found it difficult to manage his emotions, which led to challenges in both school and social settings. With the help of DBT techniques, the student began to thrive—not only becoming more engaged in school but also participating in after-school activities. His mother, who also attended DBT sessions, was able to practice the same emotional regulation techniques at home, fostering a sense of unity and mutual understanding between them. Another parent who attended the group with her son reporting enjoying the group so much that she plans on having her daughter participate in a future DBT group at CHC Ravenswood this Fall.
As Dr. Murtaza and her team look to the future, they plan on building on the success of the DBT program by expanding it further and adapting to meet the evolving needs of the community. For families who have struggled for too long without access to culturally relevant care, CHC Ravenswood’s growth and impact over the past decade represent more than just a series of programs—they represent hope.
