Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)?

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a therapy designed to help people suffering from mood disorders as well as those who need to change patterns of behavior that are not helpful, such as self-harm, suicidal ideation, and substance abuse. This approach works towards helping people increase their emotional and cognitive regulation by learning about the triggers that lead to reactive states and helping to assess which coping skills to apply in the sequence of events, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to help avoid undesired reactions.

How Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) can Help?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) will provide indispensable tools for adolescents with emotional or behavioral problems of any level of severity. Adolescent groups, parenting groups, and individual phone consultations is set up to teach teens and parents five sets of skills: Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Walking the Middle Path, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness. The adolescent group has been developed for psychoeducational purposes, not processing through the dysfunctional behaviors presented by each group member. Your adolescent will be expected to complete their homework in between sessions and then share their progress at the weekly group meetings. Individual counseling will be scheduled weekly or bi-weekly for your adolescent, depending on their need, to allow one-on-one time to process their dysfunctional thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. Group members must be assessed prior to beginning this group to ensure that he or she is a good fit.

Facts about the Dialectical Behavior Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Therapy (DBT) Group

  • begins April 19th (Wednesday classes), April 22nd (Saturday classes)
  • open to Adolescents 14-17 years of age
  • only $20 per 60 minute class, coursework completed after 10 weeks
  • choose to register your teen for weekly courses/ discussion groups on Wednesdays at 7:00-8:00 p.m. or Saturdays at 5:00-6:00 p.m.
  • adolescents can miss up to 3 group meetings, if more than 3 classes missed they will be allowed to return when the next cycle of DBT skills begin
  • psychoeducational parenting/caregiver group meetings on Wednesdays at 8:00-9:00 p.m.
  • choose to register yourself and spouse/partner (if applicable) for individual 30 min./$20 or 60 min./$40 weekly phone consult
  • DBT skills manual for Adolescents $45 each workbook (pages can be copied or downloaded on a computer, if family is not able to purchase workbook)
  • all parents involved in the life of the teen reads “Parenting a Teen Who Has Intense Emotions: DBT Skills to Help Your Teen Navigate Emotional and Behavioral Challenges” Authors: Harvey & Rathbone $10 each book

Parenting a teen with intense emotions can be extremely difficult. This much-needed group will give you and your adolescent the tools needed to help regulate his or her emotions. In addition, you’ll learn the skills for managing your own reactions so you can survive these difficult years and help your teen thrive.

If you are a parent and your teenager has been struggling with anxiety, depression, self-identity, emotional dysregulation, or ineffectively interacting with peers, click here or call my office at (760) 458-1600 to reserve your spot in one of the Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Groups.