Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents (DBT-A)

The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Adolescent (DBT-A) program at MCP is for individuals ages 13-18 with a mental health diagnosis who struggle with some of the following issues: emotional dysregulation, impulsivity (including avoidance), interpersonal problems, teenager and family challenges, and reduced awareness and focus. Adolescent clients participating in the DBT-A program receive individual DBT and also attend a DBT multi-family skills group (or have graduated from a DBT skills group).

The goal of individual DBT is to help adolescent clients create “a life worth living” by addressing safety issues (suicidal thoughts and behaviors, self-injurious thoughts and behaviors), therapy-interfering issues (impulsive behaviors, things that interfere with therapy), quality of life interfering issues, and other specific targets/goals.

Adolescent clients monitor symptoms and skills used daily on a diary card, which is reviewed in each session. Chain analyses will also be incorporated and completed by adolescent clients both in sessions and outside sessions to analyze behaviors that the adolescent wants to change. Chain analyses (along with solution analyses) also help identify skills that could be helpful. Adolescent clients and therapists explore a dialectical way of viewing things, which includes balancing acceptance and change.

The DBT-A group follows a set curriculum, covering:

• Core Mindfulness

• Distress Tolerance

• Emotional Regulation

• Interpersonal Effectiveness

• Walking the Middle Path

The multi-family DBT Skills group meets once a week for 2.5 hours. The recommended length of participation in the group is 6-12 months, with the possibility of continuing for a longer period of time if needed. One adult parent/guardian/caregiver must attend each of the sessions. More than one parent/guardian/caregiver may attend but it is required that at least one consistent adult attends all the group sessions.

Adolescent clients are required to have a DBT adherent individual therapist, who provides weekly individual DBT therapy, coaching calls, and is part of an ongoing DBT consultation group. In cases where there is no DBT individual therapist in place, MCP may be able to provide one or help set up a referral for therapy. For clients with specific insurances (including Medical Assistance), the individual DBT therapist must be part of a Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) DBT certified team.

DBT-A programming also includes "coaching calls". The individual therapist is available for “coaching calls” outside of sessions to help adolescent clients and their parent/guardian/caregiver problem-solve barriers and generalize skills. The details around this service will be further discussed after the initial assessment.

Family members are encouraged to play an active role in therapy when an adolescent is receiving DBT services.

The DBT-A program at MCP is certified by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS).

MCP is offering one DBT-A multi-family group via telehealth on Tuesday evenings from 5:00-7:30 pm. For more information on other DBT programming at MCP, click here.

An initial assessment is completed with each individual interested in receiving DBT-A services to discuss reason/s for seeking services; identify problems, strengths, goals, and recommendations; and determine diagnosis/es (if applicable), and appropriateness for the DBT-A program.

Most types of insurance are accepted, as is private pay. Please contact your insurance company to determine your level of coverage.

For more information, to make a referral, or to request an assessment, please contact Minnesota Center for Psychology at 651-644-4100 and ask about the DBT-A program.