Adolescent Program

Our adolescent program is focused on targeting issues and behaviors specific to adolescents ages 14-18. Using a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills-based curriculum, our treatment program is ideal for adolescents who struggle with:

• depression
• anxiety
• suicidal thoughts
• destructive behaviors
• self-injurious behaviors
• relationship difficulties
• peer pressure
• low self-esteem
• perfectionism
• failing grades
• distress due to high expectations for self 

DBT teaches skills in four modules that assist adolescents in learning how to tolerate life’s stressors and increase their ability to regulate emotions.

Mindfulness: increases awareness of the present moment

Distress Tolerance: skills to manage distress in the moment (behavior replacement) in order to remain in the classroom versus leaving class and falling behind in the class which leads to more distress, healthy distractions, relaxation techniques, breathing techniques

Emotion Regulation: adolescents are experiencing hormonal changes due to puberty, so the focus is on how to regulate emotions as best as they can given the stage of development that they are currently in. Skills focus on self-care that adolescents often struggle with (i.e. sleep, eating, exercise, avoiding mood altering substances), psychoeducation about mood altering substances including caffeine and sugar

Interpersonal Effectiveness: relationships, how to effectively communicate their needs with parents and teachers, learning about personal values (how they differ or remain the same from parents and peers), peer pressure and matching values and behaviors, setting and maintaining healthy boundaries in relationships, identifying healthy versus unhealthy relationships

The weekly commitment is one individual therapy session and one skills training group, in addition to phone coaching that is available.