As a parent, it’s natural to feel worried when your child or teen struggles with big emotions or challenging behaviors. You want to support them, but might feel unsure where to start or what really helps. That’s where Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, can make a real difference for your family.
What is DBT and Why Does It Matter?
DBT is a research-backed therapy designed to help children, teens, and adults manage strong emotions and improve relationships. Unlike some therapies that just aim to reduce symptoms, DBT focuses on helping your child build a meaningful, fulfilling life — even when things feel tough. At its core, DBT teaches kids and teens practical skills to deal with moments of stress, anxiety, anger, or sadness in a healthy way.
A unique part of DBT is the idea of “both-and” thinking. This means accepting that two things can be true at once — for example, “I love my family, and I need space right now.” This skill helps kids move away from “black-and-white” thinking that can make feelings harder to manage. It’s a powerful tool that builds emotional flexibility and resilience.
How DBT Skills Fit into Your Child’s Life
DBT revolves around four key skill areas, or “pillars,” that work together to support emotional and social growth:
- Mindfulness: Helping kids focus on the present moment without judgment
- Distress Tolerance: Teaching ways to cope and survive through uncomfortable or painful emotions
- Emotion Regulation: Helping kids understand and manage their emotions instead of being overwhelmed by them
- Interpersonal Effectiveness: Building skills for healthy communication, setting boundaries, and navigating relationships
These skills are straightforward and can be taught in ways that children and teens quickly understand and start using right away. They are not just for therapy sessions, but become tools your child can take out anytime life feels challenging.
Why DBT Is a Good Fit for Kids and Teens
One of the biggest benefits of DBT is that it meets kids where they are — developmentally and emotionally. The skills can help children with anxiety, trauma, ADHD, mood swings, or intense reactions that interfere with school, friendships, and family life. They’re practical, easy to learn, and don’t require a long wait to start seeing results.
Plus, DBT emphasizes family involvement. When everyone in the household learns the language of these skills, it creates a supportive environment where your child is more likely to thrive. You’ll find yourself sharing a common understanding and tools for calmer, clearer communication.
When Should You Reach Out for DBT Therapy?
Consider DBT therapy if you notice ongoing struggles with mood, behavior, or relationships that aren’t improving with typical parenting strategies. Maybe your child is having frequent emotional meltdowns or withdrawing socially. Or perhaps teen moodiness has turned into avoidant or risky behavior. DBT provides structure, tools, and professional support to help everyone in your family move forward.
The Marble Wellness Approach to DBT Therapy for Kids and Teens
At Marble Wellness, we specialize in working with kids and teens to build emotional strength and resilience through DBT. Our therapists are compassionate, experienced, and trained in child-friendly ways to teach these important skills. We also offer parent coaching and family therapy to help practice and reinforce skills at home, creating lasting change.
Getting started with DBT can be one of the most empowering steps you take as a parent. It’s about more than managing symptoms — it’s about helping your child live a life they enjoy and feel proud of. Stay tuned for future blog posts, where we’ll explore each of the four pillars of DBT skills with simple explanations and actionable tips to try at home.
Start DBT Therapy in Ballwin, MO
If you’re ready for hope and practical support on this journey, Marble Wellness is here to help. Start DBT therapy with a therapist in Ballwin, MO! Reach out to our Client Care Coordinator today to discuss your therapy options, both in-person and via online therapy in Missouri.
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About Our St. Louis Area Therapists
The St. Louis area therapists at Marble Wellness are licensed mental health professionals serving clients in Ballwin, Lake St. Louis, and throughout the greater STL area, with online therapy in Missouri available across the state. Each member of our expert therapist team brings advanced training and extensive experience in areas like anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, life transitions, and relationship concerns.
When you reach out, you are matched with a therapist whose background, specialties, and style align with your goals so you can have both practical tools for right now and deeper insight for long-term change. To learn more about the therapists at Marble Wellness, visit our Meet Our Team page to read individual bios, specialties, and locations, and to take the next step toward the calmer, more fulfilling life you’ve been wanting.
Additional Counseling Services at Marble Wellness in St. Louis, MO
Marble Wellness Counseling services are designed to help set you on a path of living a more fulfilled, calm, and happy life. Our St. Louis area therapists have a variety of training backgrounds and areas of expertise. We have child and play therapists, therapists for teens, EMDR therapists, men’s mental health experts, couples therapists, and more! We specialize in anxiety, depression, grief, chronic illness, trauma & PTSD, life transitions, and maternal overwhelm. Our practice also specifically helps new moms with various postpartum concerns, moms in the thick of parenting, and moms with teens. We can also chat from wherever you are in the state with online therapy in Missouri. No matter where you are in your journey, we are here to help you thrive!
