Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that is concerned with the mental process of perception, memory, judgment and reasoning.  DBT takes CBT therapy forward by examining personal emotions and the choices that one can make to reduce negative thoughts and improve well-being.  An important goal of DBT is to teach clients the skill to cope with stress, regulate emotions and improve relationships with one another.  Mindfullness, one of the core concepts of DBT, helps individuals accept and tolerate the powerful emotions they may feel when attempting to change their habits or exposing themselves to upsetting situations.  Within DBT, mindfulness addresses the ability to pay attention to the present moment; it is about living in the moment, experiencing one’s emotions and senses fully, yet with a broad view of life’s complex situations.

The Middle Path’s goal is to help preteens and teens become capable of calmly recognizing negative situations and their impact rather than becoming overwhelmed or hiding from them.  This allows preteens and teens to make wise decisions about whether and how to take action, rather than falling into intense, desperate, and often destructive emotional reactions.

​

If your preteen or teen experiences symptoms of:

   *  Impulsiveness

• Frequent interpersonal conflict

• Difficulty with emotional regulation

• Anger

• Poor coping in stressful situations

• Self harm