Adolescent Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a well-researched and comprehensive treatment approach that is designed to help people who have difficulty in regulating their emotions. The Inpatient DBT for youth program provides adolescents with the skills necessary to increase distress tolerance, manage emotions, improve interpersonal effectiveness and develop mindfulness. Ultimately, our goal is to help youth move toward having a life that feels more meaningful and worthwhile.

Treatment approaches utilized in inpatient DBT therapy are sensitive to various attachment styles and are individualized to each youth’s treatment needs. These treatment approaches are identified by a treatment team, offering our young patients a multi-disciplinary approach to promote a successful outcome.

What is Dialectical Behavioral Therapy?

DBT is an evidence-based treatment program that was originally developed to treat Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and is designed to help those with distress that overwhelms their ability to cope with intense emotions. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is designed to help clients create a better, more meaningful life for themselves. The purpose of treatment is to develop skills for confronting life’s challenges. The individual and therapist work together to use the DBT skills to address problems starting with the most serious.

DBT is more intensive than traditional therapy. Clients are expected to attend a weekly DBT Skills group while meeting weekly with a therapist trained in DBT. In the individual sessions, the client and therapist collaborate to apply the skills to challenges and symptoms the patient is experiencing. In addition, the therapist is available for “coaching”. Coaching helps to provide clients with assistance in applying the skills they are learning to real life problems. DBT treatment is long term.

Coping skills develop include mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance and emotion regulation.

Signs that Dialectical Behavioral Therapy could be needed:

Mood swings
Unstable relationships
Paranoid thoughts
Impulsive behaviors
Self-harming behavior
Suicidal behaviors

Conditions treated with Dialectical Behavioral Therapy include:

Borderline Personality Disorder
Depression
Bipolar disorder
Anxiety disorder
Mood disorders
Substance use disorders
Eating disorders

Inpatient DBT Therapy for Adolescents

Inpatient DBT Therapy for Adolescents