What is DBT-A?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents (DBT-A) is an evidence-based therapy for teens ages 14 to 18 who are struggling to manage emotions, behaviors, and relationships. DBT-A is often recommended when teens need support in several areas, including confusion about self, impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, interpersonal difficulties, and family conflict.

How does DBT-A work at WMI?

Our DBT-A program consists of four core components that must be offered simultaneously for the treatment to be considered comprehensive and adherent. The length of our program is 12 months. DBT-A includes structured caregiver involvement, recognizing that adolescents benefit most when skills are supported both in and outside of therapy.

Our DBT-A program follows the research-supported model shown to be effective for adolescents and includes the following four components.

• Individual Therapy: An individual therapist at WMI will meet with the teen weekly or twice a week, depending on the adolescent’s needs, for a 50-minute session.

• Multifamily Skills Class: A 90-minute virtual class that meets weekly. The skills cover five areas of learning: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and walking the middle path. The adolescent and one or both caregivers are required to attend each class.

• Phone Coaching: In order to help adolescents and their caregiver(s) generalize the skills they are learning in class to their everyday lives, therapists are available throughout the week for phone coaching. These structured calls last 5–10 minutes and focus on helping adolescents and caregivers identify and apply the most appropriate skills to a given problem.

• Consultation Team: Our DBT therapists meet weekly for two hours to support each other, discuss cases, and ensure that we offer the most effective DBT possible.

Getting started with DBT-A

If you’re a caregiver wondering whether DBT-A is the right fit for your teen, we offer consultation appointments to answer questions and talk through next steps. We understand that seeking support can feel overwhelming, and we’re here to help you navigate the process. If you are ready to schedule a free consultation, head to our Scheduling page

You might also be interested in:

• DBT for adults. Head to our DBT page

• Radically Open DBT for perfectionism and over-control. Head to our RO-DBT page