DBT Teen Group in Encinitas

DBT Teen Group: Empowering Adolescents to Thrive

Welcome to Healing Heart’s Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Teen Group, a transformative program designed to support adolescents through the challenges of adolescence. Our evidence-based DBT Teen Group equips teens with practical skills to manage emotions, navigate social pressures, and build resilience. If your teen is struggling with school stress, social media, friendships, or bullying, our program offers a safe, supportive environment to help them thrive. Discover why our DBT Teen Group is the right choice for your adolescent and how it can make a lasting difference in their mental health.

Why Choose Our DBT Teen Group?

Adolescence is a time of growth, but it can also be overwhelming. Our DBT Teen Group, led by licensed, DBT-certified therapists, provides a structured, evidence-based approach to help teens aged 12-17 develop essential coping skills. Based on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), originally developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan, our program is tailored for adolescents (DBT-A) to address emotional and behavioral challenges. Here’s why teens should join:

  • Proven Effectiveness: DBT is backed by research showing reduced self-harm, suicidal ideation, and emotional dysregulation in teens (Child Mind Institute). Our high-fidelity program ensures top-quality care.
  • Safe, Supportive Space: Teens connect with peers facing similar challenges, fostering a sense of belonging and reducing isolation in a confidential group setting.
  • Comprehensive Skill-Building: Teens learn four core DBT skills—mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness—to navigate life’s challenges.
  • Family Involvement: Caregivers participate in skills training or family sessions, strengthening communication and creating a supportive home environment.
  • Empowerment: Teens gain self-awareness and confidence, balancing acceptance and change to handle emotions and make thoughtful decisions.

Addressing Teen Challenges with DBT

Today’s adolescents face unique pressures that can impact their mental health. Our DBT Teen Group equips teens with tools to tackle these challenges head-on, helping them build resilience and thrive. Here’s how we address common issues:

1. Managing School Stress

Academic demands, such as exams, grades, and college applications, can lead to anxiety, perfectionism, or burnout. School can also be a source of social stress, like bullying or exclusion. Our DBT Teen Group helps teens cope by teaching:

  • Mindfulness: Stay present and reduce anxiety with techniques like deep breathing or grounding exercises, ideal for test-taking or high-pressure moments.
  • Emotion Regulation: Reframe negative thoughts (e.g., “I’m a failure” to “I can learn and try again”) to manage academic setbacks or teacher conflicts.
  • Distress Tolerance: Use skills like TIPP (Temperature, Intense Exercise, Paced Breathing, Paired Muscle Relaxation) to stay calm and avoid impulsive reactions.

2. Navigating Social Media Pressures

Social media can amplify feelings of inadequacy, cyberbullying, or sleep disruptions, with studies showing it doubles the risk of mental health issues in teens (U.S. Surgeon General). Our program supports teens by:

  • Interpersonal Effectiveness: Set boundaries, like limiting screen time or responding assertively to negative comments, using skills like DEAR MAN (Describe, Express, Assert, Reinforce, Mindful, Appear Confident, Negotiate).
  • Emotion Regulation: Manage feelings of jealousy or low self-esteem triggered by online comparisons through self-soothing techniques.
  • Mindfulness: Focus on real-world experiences to build self-worth independent of social media validation.

3. Building and Maintaining Friendships

Forming friendships can be challenging for teens with social anxiety or shyness. Our DBT Teen Group fosters social confidence by:

  • Interpersonal Effectiveness: Practice initiating conversations, asserting needs, and resolving conflicts through role-playing in a safe group setting.
  • Peer Support: Connect with peers who understand their struggles, reducing isolation and building authentic friendships.
  • Self-Esteem: Develop a positive self-image through validation and self-acceptance, making it easier to form meaningful connections.

4. Coping with Bullying

Being made fun of or bullied, whether in person or online, can harm a teen’s self-esteem. Our DBT Teen Group helps teens respond with resilience:

  • Distress Tolerance: Manage intense emotions like shame or anger with self-soothing or distraction techniques to avoid harmful reactions.
  • Interpersonal Effectiveness: Respond to bullying assertively, such as saying “no” to peer pressure or standing up calmly.
  • Validation: Share experiences in a supportive group, reducing feelings of isolation and building confidence.

5. Managing Anxiety

Anxiety is common among teens, manifesting as worry, panic, or social fears that interfere with daily life. Our DBT Teen Group helps teens manage anxiety by:

  • Mindfulness: Practice grounding techniques to stay present and reduce overwhelming thoughts during anxious moments.
  • Distress Tolerance: Use coping strategies like paced breathing to calm physical symptoms of anxiety, such as a racing heart.
  • Emotion Regulation: Identify and challenge anxious thoughts, replacing them with balanced perspectives to reduce worry.

6. Addressing Depression

Depression can lead to feelings of hopelessness, low energy, or withdrawal, impacting school and relationships. Our DBT Teen Group supports teens by:

  • Emotion Regulation: Learn to recognize and shift negative thought patterns, fostering hope and motivation.
  • Behavioral Activation: Use DBT skills to engage in meaningful activities, countering withdrawal and isolation.
  • Peer Support: Connect with others in a validating group environment, reducing the sense of being alone in their struggles.

7. Exploring Self-Identity

Adolescence is a critical time for developing self-identity, but teens may struggle with questions of who they are or feel pressure to conform. Our DBT Teen Group helps teens build a strong sense of self by:

  • Mindfulness: Increase self-awareness by reflecting on personal values and emotions without judgment.
  • Interpersonal Effectiveness: Assert individuality and set boundaries in relationships, fostering authentic self-expression.
  • Validation: Receive support from peers and therapists to embrace their unique identity and build confidence.

8. Managing Emotional Dysregulation

Emotional dysregulation can cause intense mood swings or impulsive behaviors, making it hard for teens to cope. Our DBT Teen Group addresses this by:

  • Emotion Regulation: Identify triggers and use skills like “opposite action” to respond constructively to intense emotions.
  • Distress Tolerance: Learn techniques like self-soothing to manage overwhelming feelings without resorting to harmful behaviors.

Mindfulness: Stay grounded in the moment to reduce emotional reactivity and make thoughtful choices.

Additional Benefits of Our DBT Teen Group

Our program goes beyond addressing specific challenges, offering lasting benefits for adolescent mental health:

  • Lifelong Skills: Teens learn tools to navigate future stressors, from college transitions to workplace challenges.
  • Improved Self-Awareness: Mindfulness and emotion regulation foster self-understanding, helping teens make intentional choices.
  • Reduced Risk Behaviors: DBT reduces self-harm and impulsive behaviors, supporting teens in building a life worth living.
  • Engaging Format: Interactive activities like role-playing, DBT Jeopardy, and storytelling keep teens motivated and invested.

Is the DBT Teen Group Right for Your Teen?

If your teen is struggling with anxiety, depression, impulsivity, or social challenges, our DBT Teen Group can help. The program is ideal for teens who:

  • Feel overwhelmed by school or social pressures
  • Struggle with intense emotions or impulsive behaviors
  • Face challenges making or keeping friends
  • Experience bullying or low self-esteem
  • Want to build resilience and confidence

Take the First Step Today Empower your teen to navigate adolescence with confidence and resilience. Our DBT Teen Group offers the tools, support, and community they need to thrive. Contact us today to learn more. The group typically meets on Wednesday’s from 6-7 PM and costs $30 per meeting or may be covered by insurance. Joining in person is encouraged and recommended to get the most out of the group and to have more connection with others but we do allow participants to connect virtually.