Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills for Adolescents
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) was created by psychologist Marsha Lineham in the 1970s and 1980s. After Marsha Linehan’s personal experience with mental illness as a teenager, and then her training in psychology as a young adult, Linehan developed DBT to support people who feel emotions very intensely. DBT was originally developed for adults, and was later adapted for adolescents.
The term ‘dialectical’ means trying to understand how two things that appear opposite could both be true; rain can be a blessing for those with a garden, and a curse for those with a long commute. In DBT, participants have the dialectical perspectives that they are doing the best that they can, and that they can do better. It is possible to bring together two opposites, acceptance and change, to better achieve your desired results and goals of therapy. Corrie became certified in DBT Skills for Adolescents and Families in November 2020. Contact Corrie for more information on DBT skills sessions.
DBT can help teens to:
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Express thoughts and feelings in healthy ways
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Develop problem solving skills
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Gain self-acceptance
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Cultivate empathy and learn new social skills
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Cope with difficult situations and emotions
IS THIS APPROACH FOR ME?
Through DBT skills sessions, adolescents and caregivers learn about the ways in which our conscious and unconscious thoughts/emotions/and behaviors impact our personal experiences, and the experience of those around us. DBT Skills training includes both in-session learning and practice, and outside-of-session learning and practice. DBT Skills includes the modules of Mindfulness Skills, Distress Tolerance Skills, Emotion Regulation Skills, Walking the Middle Path Skills, and Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills. Some people may benefit from completing all of the sections of DBT Skills, or they may prefer to focus on one or two modules before transitioning to other types of therapy.
Teens who may benefit from this course may experience:
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Intense overwhelming emotions that ‘come out of nowhere’
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Frequent conflicts within family and/or peer relationships
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Problematic or unhelpful behaviors
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Difficulty balancing their needs with the needs of others