Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) for Teens in Charlotte
Finding a Therapist specializing in DBT Therapy for Teens in Charlotte
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based psychotherapy that began with efforts to treat personality disorders and interpersonal conflicts. Evidence shows that that DBT can be beneficial in treating mood disorders, suicidal thoughts, and for change in behavior patterns such as self-harm and substance abuse.
In order to manage intense emotions that can lead to impulsive decision-making and problematic behaviors, teens taking part in DBT learn how to practice mindfulness – fully being present in the moment and focusing on one thing at a time, without judgment – along with new problem-solving skills. When mindful awareness is paired with effective problem-solving skills, teens and young adults have the necessary tools to respond easily to difficult and stressful life experiences.
This approach has helped teens and young adults who struggle with any of all of the following:
- Impulsive/disruptive behaviors
- Depression and anxiety
- Family and peer conflict
- Frequent mood swings
- Anger outbursts
- Self-harm and suicidal behaviors
- Poor coping skills
- Drug or alcohol abuse
- Eating disordered behaviors
Research suggests that DBT may also be effective for children and preadolescents (aged 8-13) who struggle with intense emotions, disruptive behaviors, and challenging relationships. If your teen is experiencing any of the above feelings or behaviors, the counselors at The Bareiter Counseling Center in Charlotte can help. They are skilled in working with teens and young adults in need of counseling in the Charlotte area.
The dialectical approach is specifically beneficial for teenagers, whose extreme, all-or-nothing thinking often influences their behavior. If your anxious daughter frequently says, “I do everything wrong, I can’t get anything right”, DBT would encourage her to replace that with, “I am proud of myself, and I must still try to improve.”
Instead of thinking “I’m all good” or “I’m all bad,” DBT encourages replacing these two extremes with “Sometimes I do things that aren’t effective, and other times I do things that are.” This helps increase the teen’s self-acceptance, ultimately serving as a way to change their behavior.
4 Core Modules
Teens learn a variety of skills in DBT that they can use to change unhealthy and ineffective behaviors. These skills are often divided into four core modules:
- Emotion Regulation
- Mindfulness
- Distress Tolerance
- Interpersonal Effectiveness
Adolescence is a crucial period for developing and maintaining social and emotional behaviors essential for mental well-being. The problem is this is easier said than done. Considering all the distractions and peer pressure teens deal with these days, how can we possibly help them? The talented professionals at The Bareiter Counseling Center in Charlotte work with teens daily, and they can help.
Emotion Regulation lets you steer powerful feelings in a more effective manner. The skills you learn will you identify, name, and change your emotions. When you are able to recognize and cope with intense negative emotions, it reduces your emotional vulnerability and helps you have more positive emotional experiences.
Mindfulness helps you focus on the present or “live in the moment.” This helps you pay attention to what is happening inside you (like your thoughts, feelings, impulses, sensations) as well as using your sense to tune in to what is happening around you in nonjudgmental ways. The mindfulness skills you will learn about in therapy will help you slow down and focus on using healthy coping skills when you are experiencing emotional pain.
Distress Tolerance skills help you accept yourself and your current situation. DBT helps you avoid chaotic situations by utilizing several techniques, including distraction, self-soothing, improving the moment, and thinking of the pros and cons of tolerating distress. These techniques will help prepare you for intense emotions and empower you to cope with them with a more positive long-term outlook.
Interpersonal Effectiveness helps you to become more assertive in a relationship while still keeping that relationship positive and healthy. An example of this is expressing your needs and being able to say “no.” You will learn to listen and communicate more effectively, deal with challenging people, and respect yourself and others.
In DBT, the patient and therapist work to resolve the apparent contradiction between self-acceptance and change to bring about positive changes in the individual in treatment. Part of this process involves validation, which helps people become more likely to cooperate and less likely to experience distress at the concept of change.
The DBT Therapy approach is able to help people successfully improve their coping skills. Patients are able to develop useful ways to manage and express strong emotions. Research has shown that DBT is effective regardless of a person’s age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, and race/ethnicity.
The best way to find out if DBT is right for you or a loved one is talk with a professional who is trained in the method. They will evaluate your symptoms, treatment history (if any), and therapy goals to see if DBT might be a good fit.
Contact the therapists and counselors at The Bareiter Counseling Center today if you’d like to learn more about DBT therapy for your Charlotte teen.