Our comprehensive adolescent and family DBT program is for individuals ages 13-17. The adolescent DBT program includes individual therapy for the teen, as well as a skills training class with the teen and at least one parent or caregiver. It typically takes between 6-12 months to complete the full program (a “cycle” of DBT takes six months to complete, although clients often opt for a second cycle to further solidify their skills and knowledge).
In our Adolescent DBT program, teens and their families learn the skills together in a group format. Research has found that when the parents or caregivers participate in the skills training it improves the outcome for the adolescent, as it allows the family to learn a common vocabulary, use the skills themselves, and support their teen in their skillful behavior.
Mindfulness Skills:
• Increase ability to control attention
• Enhance focus
• Feel more connected to reality
• Reduce emotional and psychological suffering
Distress Tolerance Skills:
• Better tolerate intense emotions or crises
• Avoid acting on maladaptive or ineffective,
self-destructive urges
Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills:
• Practice asking for what they want more effectively
• Learn how to say "no" without alienating themselves or others
Emotion Regulation Skills:
• Turn negative emotions into positive or neutral ones
• Reduce the occurrence of intense emotional crises
• Build lives worth living
Walking the Middle Path Skills:
• Improve communication around typical points of
conflict in the home
• Increase validation and understanding
• Decrease fighting
Individual DBT therapy (one or more times per week)
Skills training class with the teen and at least one parent or caregiver on a weekly basis
Brief between-session consultation with
your therapist
Therapist consultation team for the therapist
Behavioral parent/caregiver training and
family meetings as needed
Consultation with school and other providers
as needed
Consultation with psychiatrists and other
providers as needed