Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a useful therapeutic treatment for teens, but did you know it can also help parents to improve their interactions with their teens? Parents can benefit from learning DBT skills at the same time as their teens or on their own. Using DBT can help to improve communication which fosters better relationships.

Some parents may find that it is useful for them to learn DBT techniques simultaneously with their child. This helps parents to understand the techniques that their teens are being taught, which in turn can make them more effective, and also give parents themselves important skills to manage their own interactions.

DBT puts a large emphasis on learning how to manage and shift unwanted emotions and develop healthy behaviors. It teaches practical skills to change how you choose to act, with the idea that changing your actions will help to alter the way that you think and feel. DBT involves learning skills such as mindfulness skills, distress tolerance skills, emotional regulation skills, and interpersonal effectiveness skills. You can learn how to support your teen in their use of DBT skills and improve how you interact with your teen to build a more satisfying relationship.
Bridge to Balance can help with DBT for both parents and teens. We run simultaneous groups for teens and their parents that run alongside but separate from one another. Your teen doesn't need to be enrolled in the teen group in order to attend the parent group.