DBT Skills Manual for Adolescents

by Jill H. Rathus, Alec L. Miller, Marsha M. Linehan (Foreword)

From leading experts who have trained thousands of professionals in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), this manual provides indispensable tools for treating adolescents with emotional or behavioral problems of any level of severity. Clinicians are guided step by step to teach teens and parents five sets of Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Walking the Middle Path (a family-based module developed by the authors specifically for teens), Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness. Designed for optimal clinical utility, the book features session outlines, teaching notes, discussion points, examples, homework assignments, and 85 reproducible handouts, in a large-size format for easy photocopying. Purchasers also get access to a Web page where they can download and print the reproducible materials.

See also the authors' Dialectical Behavior Therapy with Suicidal Adolescents (with Marsha M. Linehan), which delves into skills training and other DBT components for those at highest risk.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Counselling, Mental Health, Social Work

392 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 15, 2014

Reviews

[Kate Emery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Introduced to me by Professor Bart during an Intro to DBT class at Columbia, this manual provides an accessible and adolescent-focused adaptation of the original DBT skills. Comparing it to the original manual, I found Rathus’ approach particularly engaging, and I appreciate how it tailors DBT concepts to meet the developmental needs of teens and budding adults.

[Mateo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good diversity of exercises and skills; I do not follow the book directly as I do not run DBT groups but I find the skills and exercises relevant to my other adolescent groups and adaptable to individual practice. It's a clear concise read; a good reference book to have.

[Katelyn Hutchison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the handouts and different tools that can be applied to the adolescents I work with. I personally do not lead DBT groups but it was helpful to learn more skills for the population of 11-17 year olds that I work with.

[James Atkison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book to teach adolescents the skills of DBT. Great exercises to practice with the kids as well.