NAMI - Adapting DBT Therapy for Children

By Emily Cepla, NAMI Program Manager, Child and Adolescent Action Center

Being the parent of an adolescent child can be difficult, but it can be even harder when your child lives with a mental health condition. Luckily dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), a form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), has been adapted to strengthen the relationship between parents and children living with mental health conditions by focusing on changing certain behaviors and reinforcing the idea of acceptance to the therapy.

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DBT is a great tool for your wellness kit. I sometimes wish that my parents had taught me these skills when I was younger because it would have helped me through a lot of hard times.