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DBT-Linehan Board Certified Program

Teen DBT Program

A certified, family-centered DBT program designed specifically for teens and their parents. Building skills together for lasting change.

Get Started (720) 390-6932

Certified Program

DBT-Linehan Board Certified

Ages 13+

Tailored for adolescents

~6 Months

Core skills group duration

Family-Centered

Parents learn skills alongside teens

What Our Program Includes

A comprehensive approach where every piece supports your teen's growth.

Individual Therapy

Weekly one-on-one sessions focused on your teen's personal goals, emotional triggers, and real-life challenges.

Multi-Family Skills Group

Teens and parents learn DBT skills together in structured weekly classes — building a shared language for change.

Phone Coaching

Real-time support between sessions — your teen can call for quick guidance on which DBT skill to use in the moment.

Parent Coaching

Optional individual sessions for parents focused on communication, emotional regulation, and supporting your teen's progress.

Five Skill Modules

Teen DBT includes an extra module — Walking the Middle Path — designed specifically for adolescents and families.

Mindfulness
Emotion Regulation
Distress Tolerance
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Walking the Middle Path

Mindfulness

Learn to be fully present, observe thoughts without judgment, and make conscious choices. Teens practice noticing what they're feeling before reacting — a skill that reduces impulsive decisions and builds emotional awareness over time.

Emotion Regulation

Understand and manage intense emotions. Teens learn to identify what they're feeling, check the facts behind emotional reactions, and use opposite action when emotions push them toward harmful behaviors. Reduces vulnerability through sleep, nutrition, and exercise awareness.

Distress Tolerance

Survive crisis moments without making things worse. Teens learn TIPP skills (changing body Temperature, Intense exercise, Paced breathing, Paired muscle relaxation) and radical acceptance — practical tools for managing overwhelming moments at school, at home, or with friends.

Interpersonal Effectiveness

Communicate needs, set boundaries, and maintain relationships and self-respect. Using DEAR MAN, GIVE, and FAST skills, teens learn how to ask for what they need, say no when necessary, and navigate peer pressure and family conflict without shutting down or blowing up.

Walking the Middle Path

Unique to teen DBT, this module helps both teens and parents move beyond all-or-nothing thinking. It teaches validation skills, behavioral principles, and dialectical thinking — finding the truth in both sides during family disagreements and reducing the intensity of parent-teen conflict.

Why Parent Involvement Matters

Parent involvement is one of the biggest predictors of success in teen DBT. When you learn the same skills your teen is learning, it reinforces progress and reduces conflict at home. You'll build a shared language, model calm behavior, and create an environment where real change can happen. Our team supports the whole family — not just the teen.

Conditions We Work With

You don't need a diagnosis to benefit. If emotions or behaviors are making daily life harder, DBT may help.

Mood swings and emotional dysregulation
Depression or anxiety that hasn't improved with other therapy
Self-harm or suicidal thoughts
Anger, impulsivity, or risky behavior
Relationship conflict or withdrawal
Trouble adjusting to major life stress or trauma
Borderline Personality Disorder traits

See also: Child DBT Program (ages 7–12) · Adult DBT Program · Friends & Family DBT

What a Typical Week Looks Like

Comprehensive DBT keeps your teen engaged and supported throughout the week.

Individual Therapy (50 min)

Your teen meets one-on-one with their therapist to work through personal challenges, review diary cards, and apply DBT skills to real situations from the past week.

Multi-Family Skills Group (90 min)

Teens and parents attend together. A skills trainer teaches the week's skill, facilitates practice exercises, and assigns homework. This shared experience builds a common language at home.

Skills Practice at Home

Between sessions, teens and parents practice using skills in real life — filling out diary cards, trying new strategies during disagreements, and noticing emotional patterns as they happen.

Phone Coaching (As Needed)

When a crisis comes up between sessions, your teen can call their therapist for brief, focused coaching on which skill to use right now. This bridges the gap between learning a skill and actually using it.

What the Research Shows

Teen DBT is one of the most studied adolescent mental health treatments, with strong outcomes across multiple randomized controlled trials.

70%

reduction in self-harm behaviors among adolescents receiving DBT compared to treatment-as-usual (Mehlum et al., 2014)

Significant

improvements in depression, suicidal ideation, and emotion dysregulation maintained at one-year follow-up

Fewer

psychiatric hospitalizations and emergency room visits for teens in DBT programs vs. standard care

Improved

family communication, reduced parent-teen conflict, and stronger relationship quality when parents participate

Teen DBT Pricing

Intake Appointment (90 min)$250
Individual Sessions (50 min)$155–175
Multi-Family Skills Group (6 weeks)$150/module

Includes one teen and their caregivers. Available in-person or virtual.

Full Billing Details →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is DBT for teens?
DBT for teens is a structured, evidence-based therapy program that includes weekly individual therapy, multi-family skills groups (with parent participation), and phone coaching. It teaches practical tools across five key areas: emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, mindfulness, and walking the middle path.
Why do parents participate?
Research shows that when parents learn DBT skills alongside their teen, treatment is more effective and lasting. By participating in group sessions and parent coaching, you gain tools to understand your teen, manage conflict calmly, and support growth outside of therapy.
How long does the program last?
The core multi-family skills group runs about six months with weekly sessions. Teens also meet weekly for individual therapy. Many families continue individual therapy for additional support after the group component.
Can my teen join if we don't live in Denver?
Individual therapy sessions are available online. Multi-family skills groups are offered both in-person and virtually. We've worked with families across Colorado and beyond who needed access to quality DBT but couldn't find a certified program nearby.
Is DBT effective for teens with anxiety or depression?
Yes. DBT is widely recognized as effective for teens experiencing anxiety, depression, or both — especially when tied to emotional intensity or difficulty managing distress. Our therapists work with teens to reduce symptoms and build emotional resilience.
What is "Walking the Middle Path"?
It's about helping teens and parents move away from black-and-white thinking and find balance between extremes. For teens: practicing compromise and managing emotional extremes. For parents: setting limits without shutting down conversations. It's a practical way to reduce family conflict.
What makes FRTC's Teen DBT program different?
We're a DBT-Linehan Board Certified program — our therapists are specially trained for teens, parent participation is central to the process, and we offer phone coaching, optional parent therapy, and a warm, collaborative environment.

Ready to Help Your Teen?

We offer free phone consultations to answer your questions and help you decide if our Teen DBT program is the right fit for your family.

Contact Us (720) 390-6932