Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is an effective form of therapy that can improve your teen’s ability to cope with anxiety and self-harming behaviors. It can give teens the coping skills they need to confront their feelings in a rational and effective way and decrease any negative behavior or outbursts. A dialectical behavior therapy program in Seattle can improve your teen’s mental health so they can continue to grow and flourish.
At Imagine Seattle, we support teens aged 12-17 who struggle with mental health issues. We understand how difficult it can be for teenagers who struggle with their thoughts and emotions. It can be a confusing and frustrating time, and dialectical behavior therapy can benefit those who have borderline personality disorders, suicidal thoughts, and other mental health issues. For more information on our dialectical behavior therapy program and how it can help your teen son or daughter, contact us online or call 888.346.0473 today.
What Is DBT?
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a combination of psychotherapy (talk therapy) and behavioral therapy that has been shown to help people manage their emotions, build communication skills, create healthy coping mechanisms, and learn self-acceptance.
DBT focuses on four main areas:
- Mindfulness
- Tolerance to distress
- Regulation of emotions
- Communication
In focusing on these aspects of life, DBT can be very beneficial for those struggling with mental health and substance use disorders who have problems managing emotional outbursts or communicating effectively with others. An effective DBT program can help individuals:
- Overcome negative or harmful thought and emotional patterns to improve their mental health
- Accept themselves and their circumstances
- Learn how to be present in the current moment instead of stuck on the past or future
- Keep emotions in check and learn to manage them healthily when they get overwhelmed
- Learn how to tolerate distress or avoid triggers instead of seeking escape
- Learn how to communicate with themselves and others effectively
- Learn how to strengthen bonds and boundaries
DBT can also be very beneficial to teens and young adults struggling with mental health disorders; learning these skills at a younger age with professional help can change the course of their lives.
3 Ways DBT Can Benefit Your Teen
DBT is beneficial in many ways, but the three most significant benefits include learning acceptance and how to cope with change, learning how to regulate emotions, and learning mindfulness.
1. Acceptance and Change
Therapists work with teens to teach them how to accept who they are and change their negative thinking and habits. They learn coping skills and healthy habits to accept and process their feelings, change their bad habits, and improve their relationship skills.
2. Emotional Regulation
Teens learn to process their thoughts and emotions and not let them lead to any adverse actions or self-harming behaviors. They develop methods to cope with their feelings and emotions and express them in a healthy manner. The more they practice these skills, the easier it will be to regulate their emotions as they get older.
3. Mindfulness Skills
Mindfulness encourages teens to focus on their current feelings, thoughts, emotions, and senses to ground them and slow down racing thoughts during stressful times or when feeling emotional pain. They use deep breathing techniques, meditation, and other methods to focus and develop mental clarity.
DBT is an excellent option for individuals who are stuck in behavioral and thought patterns that have a negative impact on their lives because it acknowledges the past and how it continues to affect someone or examines the current reasons someone may be acting out but also presents new and healthier ways of coping, living, and thinking.
Why Use Dialectical Behavior Therapy?
Dialectical behavior therapy helps people live in the moment instead of focusing on the past, develop healthy coping skills for stressful times, and regulate their changing emotions. DBT for teens is especially beneficial in assisting teens with harmful habits that can lead to serious self-harm or death.
Today, dialectical behavior therapy is useful in treating many different mental health disorders, such as:
- ADHD
- Bipolar disorders
- Eating disorders
- Generalized anxiety disorders
- Major depression
- PTSD
- Substance use disorders
- Self-harming and suicidal behaviors
At Imagine Seattle, we know how difficult it can be for teens and their changing bodies. We provide support through medication management and various behavior therapy to give them the coping skills to lead a productive and happy life. DBT for teens can be very beneficial to their physical and mental health. Their growing minds are better able to accept change, and they will have an easier time forming healthy coping skills that will benefit them throughout their life. It is imperative for their well-being to start DBT as soon your teen shows signs of a significant mental health issue.
Explore Dialectical Behavior Therapy at Imagine Seattle
At Imagine Seattle, our dialectical behavior therapy program serves teens aged 12-17 who struggle with depression, ADHD, or are exhibiting self-destructive behavior. Our certified therapists and medical staff combine DBT with other behavioral therapy programs and medication management to ease your teen’s symptoms and allow them to cope with their mental health disorder in privacy and safety.
If you are worried that your teen son or daughter is struggling with their mental health, reach out to us online or call 888.346.0473 today to speak with our compassionate staff about our dialectical behavior therapy program in Seattle.