Understanding Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents
The Principles Behind DBT for Adolescents
At Mind Works, we utilize dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) that is specifically intended for adolescents. It can help young people grow to accept distressing or traumatic experiences they may have gone through, better regulate their emotions, and improve their relationships with others. This is a kind of therapy with evidence-based results that is meant to empower the individual while helping them build new skills that can benefit their overall quality of life for years to come.
The primary principles behind DBT include mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Mindfulness involves becoming aware of your thoughts and emotions without judgment toward them. Distress tolerance involves being able to manage a crisis without becoming overwhelmed. Emotion regulation involves better understanding and being able to regulate your emotions effectively. Finally, interpersonal effectiveness involves building healthier relationships and developing better communication.
Insurance and Coverage
At Mind Works, we accept a wide range of commercial insurance payers. However, not all of your child’s treatment may be completely covered under your plan. If you’re considering our program for your child, reach out to our team today. We can help ensure you know exactly what to expect when it comes to costs.
The Role of DBT-A Therapy
DBT-A therapy helps to support better emotional regulation while helping young people develop better coping skills for stress and other negative emotions. This type of therapy can help teens develop social skills, better mindfulness, and overall greater interpersonal effectiveness. Through this treatment program, your child can learn how to communicate more effectively with those around them and build healthier relationships.
Structure and Therapy Sessions
Structure and Therapy Sessions
At Mind Works, a typical therapy plan will include both an individual therapy session and a skills group each week. Teens will also meet with their DBT therapists and consultation team on a regular basis to ensure they are making progress.
Skills Training and Practice
DBT-A will help your teen learn practical skills through exercises and group sessions. Such skills involve problem solving, properly managing high-stress moments and difficult situations, and learning to be more grounded and present.
Family Involvement and Support
Family involvement and support will play a critical role in your child’s treatment. At Mind Works, we want to ensure that the progress your teen makes while in therapy can continue while they are at home. This involves collaborations between families, clinicians, and all treatment providers.
Helping Children With DBT-A Therapy
Signs Your Child Could Benefit From DBT-A Therapy
Adolescence can be a difficult time, and emotional dysregulation can only add to the difficulty. If your child is struggling with feeling overwhelmed by their emotions or if they are struggling with thoughts or actions related to self-harm, a DBT program may be a good fit for them.
Conditions That Benefit From DBT-A
- Emotional Regulation Difficulties
- Self-Harm, Self-Injury, or Suicidal Behavior
- Mood Disorders
- Anxiety and Trauma
- Bipolar Disorder
- Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
How to Get Started With Mind Works
1. Contact Us
Fill out a simple contact form on our website or call our office with any questions. Choose the “San Antonio Central” location when filling out the form.
2. Intake Phase
We’ll provide you with an in-depth questionnaire regarding your child’s history, mental health concerns, treatment needs, and goals.
3. Begin Treatment
We’ll collaboratively create a personalized treatment plan for your child. This may include assessments, play therapy, teen talk therapy, and/or medication.
Our Approach to DBT-A Therapy at Mind Works
Diagnosis and Evaluation
At Mind Works, each child’s journey with DBT therapy begins with a comprehensive evaluation. We understand that each individual’s experience with mental, emotional, or behavioral struggles is unique, and we recognize that a one-size-fits-all approach is never the answer. Together, our team will get to know your child and then come up with an individualized treatment plan that is going to be the best fit for them and their unique needs.
Mental Health Conditions Supported at Mind Works
At Mind Works, we utilize DBT-A to help support a wide variety of emotional, behavioral, and mental health challenges. Some of these conditions include:
- Depression and mood disorders
- Anxiety
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- BPD
- Self-harm behaviors or suicidal ideation
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Grief and trauma
Evidence-Based Interventions
Our team utilizes evidence-based and research-backed interventions to promote the best possible progress. Alongside DBT-A, we may also utilize other therapy techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and play therapy.
Our Partnership With Parents
At Mind Works, we believe that collaboration between parents and our team helps ensure that your child’s greatest success. Therefore, we help to educate parents on DBT-A skills through parent coaching and joint family therapy. We will also regularly update you on your teen’s progress and provide a variety of ways that you can support your child’s continued success at home and outside of therapy.
Empowering Your Child’s Success
At Mind Works, we aim to empower your child’s success in every way that we can by helping them make vital positive changes in their life. Some ways that we intend to do this include:
- Helping them to thrive at home, school, and play
- Teaching Life Skills
- Encouraging Independence
- Improving communication both at home and at school
- Helping them to handle challenges that may arise within relationships
- Handling peer pressure and making positive decisions
Help Your Child Soar to New Heights
We understand that watching your child struggle with their emotions or deal with destructive behavior patterns can be very difficult. However, you don’t have to go through this alone. At Mind Works, we are here to support you while ensuring your child has the tools necessary to become the best version of themselves. Life is worth living. Schedule a consultation with our team today.
FAQs About DBT-A Therapy
Yes, DBT-A is often covered by insurance. However, to learn more about specific coverages, you should reach out to our admission team at Mind Works.
No, DBT and CBT are two different kinds of therapies. However, they are both evidence-based and help to support those struggling with negative thoughts or behavior patterns. One of the primary focuses of DBT is coming to understand and balance change and acceptance. In the case of DBT, the primary focus is to help change negative thought patterns and to reframe distorted ways of thinking.
DBT-A can be very effective and beneficial for adolescents. The following are just some of the ways it can help:
- Helping to reduce suicidal thoughts or self-harming behaviors
- Improving emotional regulation
- Helping with better communication and functioning, both at home and at school
At Mind Works, we serve those between the ages of 3 and 17 at our San Antonio, TX, locations.
If you believe that your child could benefit from DBT-A therapy, consider giving us a call today to schedule a consultation. We will help ensure the process is as easy as possible and will guide you each step of the way.
The first session is the intake session that is designed for parents only. Here you will meet your child’s therapist to discuss and define the counseling relationship. Your therapist will gather information about your child, biological, psychological, and social history, and how this is impacting your current situation. You and your therapist will also discuss treatment goals moving forward and begin setting up appointments for your child.
Our goal is to help you feel supported and understood. At Mind Works we strive to include parents as partners in the process. We will set up a feedback session over the next 5-8 weeks where you and your therapist can discuss progress, continued treatment goals, while providing parental guidance and support.
Is your child struggling with emotional dysregulation, negative thoughts, or behavior patterns? Our team at Mind Works can help by providing them with the guidance and life skills they need. Give us a call at (210) 366-3700 today.
Success Stories
“Highly recommend Mind Works. I am a clinician in Illinois and needed to find a clinic in Texas that could provide services to my client that was moving. This is no easy feat to do across the United States. Mind Works was fabulous to work with from the very beginning. Coordination of care was 5 stars and my “previous” client is very happy with their new counselor. Thank you very much for going above and beyond during this difficult time so many other counseling offices are facing. I appreciate all the help and coordination you offered my client!”
“I have known the owners for over 8 years and have taken a family member to Mind Works. Therefore, I can speak of them both personally and professionally. There truly is no better place for this service, especially for children and young adults. On the personal level, I know how much they truly care about everyone they meet. On a professional level, the entire staff is a reflection of the dedication to helping others and competence that gets results that the owners exude. During the incredibly trying time of this pandemic and the fear and anxiety it has caused many people, we are incredibly blessed to have Mind Works available to support.”
“The front desk staff is kind and courteous and helped me find the right therapist for my child. When I met my therapist she was kind and explained the process to me. I love that she included me in the play therapy process and helped me understand how to help my child. Thankful for the therapists at Mind Works!”
“Mindworks is the leader in child centered play therapy and collaborative care in San Antonio and surrounding areas. Their focus is solely on the mental health of children and teenagers. Each clinician at all four locations is seasoned, knowledgeable, experienced, and capable. Parents trust that their child is going to get the treatment and services they need and deserve.
I thoroughly enjoyed working as a clinician at Mindworks. The support and leadership is consistent and outstanding. Unlike any other job that I have had, leadership and clinicians work together to cultivate an awesome work environment.”