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Make an impact on a child's mental health journey

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Changing how teens experience and express big emotions
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What happens when big emotions turn into high-risk behavior?


For teens, powerful, overwhelming emotions can lead to coping and venting behaviors that don’t mesh with who they are – it can show up as aggression, outbursts, self-harm or substance abuse.

Common starting points in youth therapy include mindfulness and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) – Washburn Center’s certified Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) program blends these approaches seamlessly in a group environment to help teens recognize, accept, regulate and navigate even the biggest emotions.

This combination of mindfulness (accepting feelings for what they are) and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (learning strategies to change unhelpful feelings and patterns) might seem to contradict. Teens often ask, “how can I accept these feelings if I am also focused on minimizing them?”

Washburn Center’s DBT program guides teens and caregivers on a path that leads to, “I am doing the best I can, and I need to do better with my emotions.”

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DBT helps families develop healthier patterns – together


To be sure, life is difficult – especially in the transition to teenage years. Yet when the pressure of life starts to lead to dangerous behavior and risk-taking, it’s important to spring into action.

DBT programs are proven to restore hope for youth and their families who are struggling to put healthy habits and skills to work as they take on the stressors in their everyday world.

Because of the personal, vulnerable nature of these concepts, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is built on commitment and partnership – and that includes the participation of caregivers in the healing and growing process. 

Caregivers are a critical part of the journey – it’s not enough for the family system to hear about the skills and coping mechanisms, they must support each other in plugging in those skills in their everyday, real-life situations. By making this a collaborative effort for the family, everyone can excel together, and behaviors can improve in a supportive system.

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What you can expect in Washburn Center’s DBT Groups

  • Adolescents must be aged 14-17 and have received a recommendation to start DBT as part of their greater treatment plan or discharge plan.
  • Full parent or caregiver participation is required for success.
  • Youth must be ready to actively participate weekly in 2-hours of group and 1-hour individual supervision over the six-month period. 
  • Groups will include 6 to 8 youth plus their caregivers who will be led by two DBT-trained and experienced Washburn Center for Children therapists.
  • Youth will gain mastery of new skills and learn to self-activate by the end of thesix-month program.

How to enroll

For more information or to see if this program is a fit for your family, talk with our Intake team at 612-871-1454 or visit www.washburn.org/message-our-team today.

Washburn Center certified as a DBT (Dialectal Behavior Therapy) provider in Minnesota and access is building for families as referrals are available for insurance plans, including:

  • Aetna/FirstHealth
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield (Commercial and PMAP)
  • Cigna
  • Health Partners (Commercial and PMAP)
  • Hennepin Health
  • Medica/UBH/Optum (Commercial and PMAP)
  • Medical Assistance (MA)
  • UCare (Commercial and PMAP)