IMPACT'S INTEGRATIVE DBT PROGRAM FOR ADOLESCENTS
Empowering Teens with Essential Social-Emotional Tools
Navigating the challenges of adolescence can be overwhelming for both teens and their families. The Integrative Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents (DBT-A) program at IMPACT is a specialized and comprehensive approach designed to empower teenagers with the skills they need to thrive emotionally, socially, and academically.
What is IMPACT's DBT-A Program?
Why Choose DBT-A at IMPACT?
At the heart of our program is a commitment to understanding and supporting the unique needs of teenagers.
DBT for Adolescents is an evidence-based therapy that combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness strategies. It's specifically tailored to address the emotional intensity, identity development challenges, and social pressures adolescents face. DBT-A is an effective treatment for a wide range of diagnostic presentations, including depression, self-harm and suicidal behaviors, trauma, emerging borderline personality disorder traits, family conflict, and high-risk behaviors. Our program integrates DBT-A with other therapeutic modalities, including attachment-based frameworks, cognitive behavior therapy, family systems, and psychodynamic models.
IMPACT's Approach to DBT-A
Program Highlights:
IMPACT’s Integrative DBT-A program is for teenagers aged 13-18 (enrolled in middle or high school). The program utilizes five modules of DBT-A: Mindfulness, Emotion Regulation, Distress Tolerance, Interpersonal Effectiveness, and Walking the Middle Path. In our weekly group, parents learn the key techniques of each module. The other components of the program include weekly individual therapy for teens and a dedicated team of clinicians who work together to support you and your family.
Tailored Curriculum: Our program is designed to resonate with teens, offering a curriculum that is both engaging and relevant to their experiences. Each module is crafted to equip teens with practical skills they can apply in their daily lives, providing DBT in a more flexible and integrative way than traditional DBT-A programs.
Our Therapists: Our team of licensed therapists and postdoctoral fellows specialize in working with adolescents, providing a safe and non-judgmental space for them to explore their emotions, build resilience, and develop coping mechanisms.
Parental Involvement: We believe a strong support system is crucial for success. Our program encourages active involvement from parents and caregivers, fostering open communication and collaboration between families and therapists.
What The Program Entails
Program Components:
Our Integrative DBT-A Program is designed to help teens who need support in at least three of the following five areas: confusion about self/identity, impulsivity, lack of emotional control, interpersonal problems, and adolescent-family dilemmas. The length of our program is typically six months.
Individual Therapy:
Weekly individual therapy focuses on identifying and targeting the main problem areas in a teen’s life and applying relevant DBT-A skills to their daily lives. Individual sessions also integrate a range of interventions, blended seamlessly with DBT-A. There is an option for multiple individual sessions per week.
DBT-Informed Parent Guidance (optional):
Parents can work on specific problem behaviors and parenting goals by combining techniques learned in the skills group with parent management training.
DBT Process Group (upon program completion):
Teens who have completed the full six-month program can join our ongoing DBT Process Group, facilitated by expert therapists trained in DBT-A and intensive group psychotherapy.
Group Modules
Core Mindfulness Skills:
Increases awareness of emotions, thoughts, and action urges, enhancing attentional control and reducing reactivity.
Distress Tolerance:
Decreases impulsive behaviors by increasing the capacity for tolerating high levels of distress.
Walking the Middle Path:
Addresses common teen and parent relationship conflicts through dialectical thinking and validation.
Emotion Regulation:
Reduces emotional vulnerability and reactivity, aiding quicker recovery from extreme mood states.
Interpersonal Effectiveness:
Builds and maintains positive relationships through direct teaching of relationship skills.
Fees & General Information
Consultation Team
Our clinicians meet regularly as a consultation team to support one another and think creatively about the best ways to help teens and their families.
Entry Dates for New Participants
New participants are welcome at the beginning of each new 4-week module. Inquire for more information.
Cost
We believe in being as transparent as possible about pricing.
Individual therapy: $250-$325 weekly
Parent Group: $175 per group for 24 weeks ($4200)
New! DBT-A Parent Group Starting January 2025
Support Your Teen & Yourself with Our DBT-A Parent Group
Parenting an adolescent can feel overwhelming, especially when emotional highs and lows dominate family dynamics. Our Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents (DBT-A) Parent Group is here to help you navigate these challenges and build a stronger connection with your teen.
What You’ll Learn:
In this specialized group, parents and caregivers will explore:
DBT skills, including mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, walking the middle path, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Techniques to improve communication and foster stronger connections with your teen.
Strategies to manage emotional crises calmly and effectively.
Tools to cope with the unique challenges of parenting a highly sensitive adolescent.
What to Expect:
Engaging, interactive sessions led by experienced DBT-trained therapists.
A supportive community of parents navigating similar challenges.
Practical strategies that empower both you and your teen.
Group sessions are held via Zoom every Tuesday at 12:15 PM, beginning January 7, 2025. This program provides a collaborative and transformative space for parents to align their approach with DBT principles, fostering resilience and understanding within the family.