Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Teens
Distress Tolerance
Join us this Spring for DBT for Teens: Distress Tolerance Skills, a structured, skills-based group designed to help adolescents manage intense emotions, crisis moments, and overwhelming stress. This group introduces teens to the Distress Tolerance module of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), an evidence-based psychotherapy that teaches practical strategies for getting through difficult moments without making situations worse.
This workshop emphasizes skill acquisition and practice, giving teens concrete tools they can use when emotions feel unmanageable or when immediate problem-solving is not possible.
Why Distress Tolerance Skills Are Essential for Teens
Adolescence is a developmental stage marked by heightened emotional intensity, rapid change, and increased exposure to stress. Many teens experience strong emotional reactions but have not yet developed effective ways to cope when distress peaks.
Distress tolerance skills help teens learn how to:
Manage crisis situations without impulsive or harmful behaviors
Reduce emotional overwhelm when change is not immediately possible
Increase emotional control during high-stress moments
Build confidence in their ability to tolerate discomfort without avoidance
What Teens Will Learn in This Group
Through the DBT Distress Tolerance module, participants will learn and practice skills that help them:
Identify early signs of emotional escalation
Use crisis survival strategies to lower emotional intensity
Apply grounding and self-regulation techniques in real time
Respond to distress with intention rather than reaction
This group is skills-focused, structured, and experiential. Teens will leave with a clear set of DBT tools they can continue to use across settings, including school, home, and social environments.
Program Highlights
Over the course of this 8-week DBT for Teens program, participants will gain more than just coping strategies. This group is designed to help teens build confidence in their ability to handle difficult moments, strengthen emotional awareness, and practice skills in a supportive, structured environment.
Throughout the program, teens will:
Learn and practice core DBT Distress Tolerance skills that help them manage emotional overwhelm, stress, and crisis situations
Build greater awareness of their emotional responses and learn how to slow things down when emotions run high
Develop practical tools they can use immediately at home, at school, and in social situations
Increase confidence in their ability to tolerate discomfort without acting impulsively or shutting down
Experience the normalization that comes from learning alongside peers facing similar challenges
Each teen will receive their own personal DBT journal, which will be used throughout the group for skill practice, reflection, and between-session exercises. Journals are designed to help teens track progress, personalize their skills, and continue using what they learn beyond the 8 weeks.
The group format emphasizes consistency, routine, and repetition, allowing teens to gradually build mastery of skills in a calm, predictable setting. Sessions balance learning, discussion, and hands-on practice to support different learning styles and levels of comfort.
This program is ideal for teens who feel emotions intensely, struggle during high-stress moments, or benefit from clear structure and concrete tools.
Join Us This Spring!
Primary Skills Trainer, Jackie Pollner, LCMHC, who brings over 17 years of experience in the mental health field working with children and adolescents across a wide range of concerns. Jackie previously served as the primary skills leader for an intensive DBT program in a community mental health setting for three years before transitioning to private practice, where she built and led a comprehensive DBT program and curriculum for an eating disorder practice. In that role, she taught DBT skills to both teens and adults and developed specialized DBT curriculum tailored to eating disorder treatment.
Secondary Skills Trainer and Co-Leader, Liz Spicer, CMHC Intern, brings a strong foundation in working with tweens and teens as they navigate a wide range of life challenges. With a background as a Registered Behavior Technician, Liz has extensive experience supporting emotional regulation, communication, and coping skills while building meaningful connections with both youth and families. Her warm, relatable style helps teens feel at ease in group settings, making it easier for them to engage, participate, and practice new DBT skills.
This program equips tweens and teens with time-tested, evidence-based skills designed to build emotional resilience they can carry with them throughout their lives.
Program Details:
Duration: 8 weeks
Whose it for: Tweens and Teens, 12 through 16 years old.
Location: Middle Path Counseling - Amherst, NH
Dates: Wednesdays - May 6, 2026 through June 24, 2026
Time: 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Cost: Covered by most insurance plans.
