DBT- Youth and Family

Dialectical Behavior Therapy Youth & Family (DBT-Y) is designed for adolescents who have difficulty managing their emotions. The goal of the therapy is to change the maladaptive behavior patterns of emotionally challenged adolescents, such as those who engage in self injury, have suicidal ideation, substance use disorder, eating disorders or other self-destructive behavior.

DBT assumes that the adolescent wants to feel better and experience a better quality of life. It is a combination of cognitive and behavioral therapies which teach adolescents to regulate emotion, decrease impulsivity, develop a better sense of self, improve interpersonal effectiveness, and address family conflict.

The Ann Arbor DBT-Y individual and group skills training series has a standard inclusion of DBT, developed by Marsha Linehan, Ph.D. with a special emphasis on the adaptations designed by Alec Miller, Psy.D. and Jill Rathus, Ph.D. to treat adolescents.

Goals of DBT Youth & Family Treatment

Learn strategies to ask for what one wants or needs, say no, and maintain relationships
Manage painful emotions without worsening the situation
Learn skills to control powerful emotional states
Address teenager-family dilemmas
Enhance self-esteem

Skills to be learned by Families

Interpersonal Effectiveness - how to make relationships more successful
Emotion Regulation - the ability to reduce mood swings and increase effective mood management.
Distress Tolerance - control over the impulsivity which leads to self-harming behavior and etc.
Mindfulness - awareness of self
Walking the Middle Path - reduction in polarized thinking, feeling, and acting

This model of DBT involves both the adolescent and a caregiver in the treatment. Please call for further information regarding the structure of this program. This program is a one year committment to do all modules twice.