Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a skill-based therapy that teaches patients how to manage their thoughts and emotions and build healthy relationships. Learning how to use DBT techniques includes skills such as mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. These are useful skills for teens to have, whether they have a diagnosed mental health condition or they simply need ways to manage emotions such as sadness, anxiety, anger and stress. DBT increases self-awareness and gives teens the tools that they need to build mastery over managing their emotions and building healthy relationships.

Teenagers can find themselves dealing with many big emotions throughout their teenage years. While some teens may be better at managing their emotions than others, DBT can help to ensure that all teens have the skills required to handle the feelings that they experience as they go through the difficult journey to adulthood. Managing their emotions better also helps them to improve their relationships, giving them the interpersonal tools that they need to build healthy relationships and effectively manage their reactions and behavior.
Bridge to Balance offers a DBT group for teens, as well as a group for parents, which runs alongside but separate from the teen group. This enables both parents and teens to learn the same skills, which reinforces their effectiveness and often improves home life. Not only will teens learn essential skills for managing their emotions but parents can also benefit from both understanding what their teen is learning and building their own DBT skills and knowledge.