Trusted, Accredited Teen Treatment
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for Teens
Our DBT program for teens helps adolescents manage emotions, reduce impulsive behavior, and build healthier relationships through evidence-based therapy.
If your teen is struggling with intense emotions, self-destructive behaviors, or difficulty maintaining healthy relationships, it can be heartbreaking to witness—and overwhelming to navigate as a parent. At Beachside Teen Treatment Center, we specialize in evidence-based, compassionate care that supports the entire family. One of the most effective and transformative approaches we offer is Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for teens. This powerful therapeutic method helps adolescents build the skills they need to manage their emotions, improve relationships, and find healthier ways to cope.
Our serene Los Angeles facility provides a safe and structured environment where teens can begin to heal, grow, and gain insight into their behaviors and thought patterns. If your child is struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, substance use, self-harm, or mood instability, DBT may offer the structured, life-changing support they need.
Learn more about our teen treatment programs or call us now at 888-254-0916.
What is Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) for Teens?
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for teens is a specialized form of cognitive-behavioral therapy that focuses on helping adolescents regulate emotions, tolerate distress, and improve interpersonal skills. Originally developed to treat borderline personality disorder in adults, DBT has since been adapted and proven effective for teens with a wide range of mental health and behavioral challenges.
At its core, DBT teaches teens how to balance acceptance and change—two seemingly opposing concepts that work together to reduce emotional suffering and build a meaningful life. DBT focuses on four key areas: mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. These skills are taught in individual therapy, group skills training, and family sessions to ensure long-term success both in and outside of treatment.
The History of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy was developed in the late 1980s by psychologist Dr. Marsha Linehan. Initially created for adults experiencing chronic suicidal ideation and emotional dysregulation, DBT marked a shift in the therapeutic landscape by incorporating acceptance strategies from Eastern mindfulness practices with traditional behavioral interventions.
Over time, clinicians began adapting DBT for adolescents, tailoring the program to the unique developmental needs of teens and involving parents more directly in the process. Research has consistently demonstrated that Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for teens reduces self-harm, suicidal ideation, emotional outbursts, and risky behaviors, making it one of the most well-regarded therapies for adolescents facing emotional and behavioral dysregulation.
Tour our DBT Programs near Los Angeles.
The Components of DBT
A comprehensive DBT program includes several components that work together to support meaningful and lasting change. At Beachside Teen, our DBT approach integrates the following core elements:
- Individual Therapy: Teens meet one-on-one with a licensed therapist to apply DBT skills to real-life challenges, set goals, and work through emotional struggles in a supportive environment.
- Skills Training Groups: In a group setting, teens learn the four pillars of DBT—mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. These sessions are interactive, engaging, and designed with adolescent development in mind.
- Phone Coaching (in some settings): Teens can access brief coaching between sessions when they need help applying skills in the moment, especially during emotional crises.
- Family Involvement: DBT recognizes the importance of family dynamics in a teen’s healing process. Parents are often invited to participate in skills training or family therapy sessions to create a more supportive home environment.
- Therapist Consultation Team: Our DBT-trained clinicians participate in regular consultation meetings to ensure fidelity to the model and ongoing support for the therapy team.
How Does DBT for Teens Work?
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for teens is both structured and flexible, offering a roadmap for emotional stability while allowing space for personal growth and individuality.
The therapy typically unfolds in stages:
- Stabilization and Safety: The first phase focuses on reducing harmful behaviors, such as self-injury, suicidal thoughts, or substance use. Teens are taught crisis survival skills and are encouraged to commit to safety plans.
- Emotional Processing: Once safety is established, therapy explores the underlying emotions and experiences contributing to the teen’s distress. Here, they learn to recognize patterns and shift how they respond to triggering situations.
- Skill Mastery and Maintenance: As teens begin to feel more emotionally balanced, they continue building and strengthening their DBT skills, reinforcing healthy coping mechanisms and improving communication with family, peers, and others.
- Empowerment and Reintegration: DBT encourages teens to build a “life worth living,” aligning their goals, values, and sense of self. The final stage of therapy involves applying these insights to everyday life, academics, friendships, and future aspirations.
How DBT Can Help Your Child & Adolescent
Adolescence is a time of heightened emotional sensitivity and identity formation, and for some teens, this developmental stage is further complicated by mental health issues, behavioral challenges, or substance use. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for teens provides a concrete framework that helps teens learn to:
- Manage overwhelming emotions without resorting to self-harm or destructive behaviors
- Recognize and reframe negative thought patterns
- Communicate more effectively with family and peers
- Build distress tolerance during crisis situations
- Cultivate mindfulness and awareness in daily life
Many parents report seeing improvements in their teen’s self-esteem, ability to handle frustration, and willingness to participate in family life. When teens are given the right tools in a supportive environment, they are more capable of taking ownership of their actions and moving forward with confidence and purpose.
How We Implement DBT Into Our Los Angeles Teen Programs
At Beachside Teen, we believe that successful treatment means more than symptom reduction—it means building a foundation for lifelong resilience. That’s why DBT is an integral part of many of our programs across multiple levels of care, including residential treatment, partial hospitalization (PHP), and intensive outpatient programs (IOP).
Our experienced clinical team includes DBT-trained therapists who tailor each treatment plan to your teen’s unique needs. Whether your teen is struggling with mood swings, trauma, impulsivity, or co-occurring substance use, our DBT framework ensures that they’re learning actionable, evidence-based skills in a compassionate and structured setting.
We also provide education and support to parents and caregivers so that healing can extend beyond our treatment center and into the home. DBT is most effective when practiced consistently, and we’re here to make that transition as seamless and successful as possible.
Begin Your Teen’s Journey With Support and Structure
Watching your teen suffer is painful, but you don’t have to navigate this journey alone. At Beachside Teen Treatment Center, we provide individualized, evidence-based care rooted in compassion, connection, and clinical excellence. Our use of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for teens empowers young people to face their emotions head-on, build healthier relationships, and move forward with strength and clarity.
If you think DBT might be the right fit for your child, we encourage you to reach out today. Our admissions team is here to answer your questions, verify insurance, and walk you through the next steps toward healing.
Mark Paladini
Director of Education
Last Updated on March 12, 2025
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Take The First Step
If your teen is struggling, help is available. At Beachside Teen Treatment Center, we are committed to providing the highest quality care in a supportive and compassionate environment. Let us help your family find hope and healing.
Contact us today to learn more about our inpatient treatment for teens or to schedule a consultation. Together, we can help your teen build a healthier, brighter future.
Our team of dedicated professionals specializes in adolescent mental health, and our programs are designed to meet the unique developmental needs of teenagers. With a focus on compassion, understanding, and long-term success, we help teens and their families rediscover hope.
Meet Our Trusted, Compassionate Care Team
When left untreated, adolescent behavioral health issues can lead to lifelong struggles with mental health and addiction. We’re here to help your child discover healthy coping mechanisms to deal with stress and mental health symptoms. Our team is a diverse group of professionals who are here to provide for your child’s needs throughout their treatment program.
Eli Wayne
Dr. Michael Louie
Dr. Shilpa Jindani
Physician
Mark Paladini
Eli Wayne
Dr. Michael Louie
Dr. Shilpa Jindani
Mark Paladini
Begin Adolescent DBT in Los Angeles Today
At Beachside Teen Treatment Center, we understand how challenging it can be to see your teen struggling with mental or behavioral health issues. Our inpatient treatment program offers a serene, supportive environment where your teenager can begin their journey to healing and recovery.
Call us now at 888-254-0916 or verify your insurance.
Together, we can help your teen build a brighter future..