What is DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy)?
DBT is a type of talk therapy that helps individuals manage intense emotions, build better relationships, and cope with stress in healthier ways. It combines cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) techniques with mindfulness practices, and it’s designed to help people who experience emotional dysregulation, self-destructive behaviours (including self-harm, increased risk-taking, or drug and alcohol use) and difficulty in relationships.
Why is DBT effective for teens?
Teens can struggle with emotional intensity, identity development, and peer relationships, which can lead to an range of challenges and behaviours. DBT provides tools for managing overwhelming emotions, improving communication, and navigating social pressures in healthy ways. DBT can be particularly effective for teens who have difficulty regulating emotions, experience intense mood swings, or engage in risky behaviours including self-harm. DBT is an evidence-based approach that has been extensively studied since the 1990s, you can find more information about the research into DBT here
What is DBT 4 Teens?
DBT 4 Teens is a DBT skills group for teens aged 13 to 17 years. Skills groups are structured group sessions that focus on teaching essential DBT skills. These skills are divided into four modules:
- Distress Tolerance: Developing strategies to tolerate difficult situations without resorting to harmful behaviours.
- Emotion Regulation: Understanding and managing intense emotions effectively.
- Interpersonal Effectiveness: Building communication skills and maintaining healthy relationships with others.
- Mindfulness: Learning to stay in the present moment and become more aware of thoughts and feelings.
DBT 4 Teens is a 12-session program, which runs Monday afternoons from 4pm to 5:30pm in school terms (including on Staff Development Days but excluding public holidays). Sessions are currently running at the Edgeworth Memorial Neighbourhood Centre.
Looking for more information on DBT 4 Teens? Contact jen@odts.com.au for a link to a free 20-min webinar.
What should my teen expect during a DBT 4 Teens session?
Your teen will participate in a small group setting with other teens. Each 90 min session will focus on one to two skills (like a distress tolerance or emotion regulation skill). They will learn new coping strategies, practice them with others in the group through interactive activities, and will be encouraged to apply the skills to real-life situations through case studies. There may also be homework assignments to reinforce the skills learned.
What if my teen is nervous about participating in a group?
Firstly, it is understandable that your young person may be nervous about participating in a group program and it is an important reason that we undertake the 90 min individual intake appointment prior to them starting the program. However, DBT 4 Teens is an education-style learning experience, not a therapy-style group. This means that the focus is on skill-building, not on sharing information that they don’t want to share with others.
Can my teen join DBT 4 Teens at any time?
Intakes for DBT 4 Teens take place every 3-4 weeks, when a new module is starting, depending on capacity. Participants must begin at the start of a module and then must complete all 4 modules to gain the most benefits from the program.
What is included in DBT 4 Teens?
At Opening Doors Therapeutic Services, we believe it is important that parents/carers have an understanding of the skills we are working on in group sessions. For this reason, in addition to 12 face-to-face group sessions, an introductory webinar for teens and a 90 min individual initial intake appointment, parents will have access to three on-demand recorded webinars that will provide an overview of key DBT concepts and some of the key skills included in the program to help you to support your teen to integrate the skills into their daily life.
Can parents/carers attend DBT 4 Teens sessions?
No – group sessions are specifically for teens, which is the reasons that the on-demand webinars have been developed for parents and carers.
What is the cost of DBT 4 Teens?
DBT 4 Teens involves a total program fee of $950 in 2025. This fee includes:
– Twelve face-to-face group sessions
– Three on-demand parent/carer webinars
– One 90-min initial intake appointment with our therapist to build a sense of your teen’s individual needs and goals.
– One introductory webinar to be viewed by your teen prior to commencing group sessions to orientate them to DBT and group structure.
Cost comparison – individual DBT therapy vs DBT 4 Teens group | ||
| Individual Therapy *approx. cost* | DBT 4 Teens |
12 sessions plus introductory webinar | $2400 |
$950 |
Parent coaching | $250 | |
90 min intake session | $200 | |
| Total cost – $2850 |
Flexible payment options are available via direct debit payments through GoCardless. Please discuss payment options with us. Our therapist is not currently offering Medicare rebates.
My teen has an NDIS package, can we use it to pay for DBT 4 Teens?
DBT 4 Teens may be suitable for young people who have NDIS plans and have identified goals in building psycho-social skills including emotion regulation and social skills.
If you are self-managed or plan-managed then you may be able to fund the program with your package, however this should be discussed with your local area coordinator, support coordinator or plan manager where relevant.
What if my teen misses a session?
Program sessions will be run on a rotating schedule every 12 weeks (approximately and excluding school holidays). Therefore make-up sessions may be offered, however it is important to understand that they will not be available for approximately 3 months. Therefore individual make-up sessions can be offered at an extra cost, or resources may be shared with your teen if appropriate.
Can my teen just attend just one of the modules?
No, DBT 4 Teens is designed as a 12-session program and the program fee secures a young person’s spot in 12 consecutive sessions.
How do I sign up my teen to participate in DBT 4 Teens?
1) Contact jen@odts.com.au and with the subject line ‘DBT 4 Teens’ and a brief introduction to your teen with a request to participate.
2) If there is current capacity, you will be emailed:
i. Client Intake form (to be completed by parent/carer)
ii. Client consent form (to be completed by parent/carer)
iii. Initial questionnaire (to be completed by your teen)
If there is no current capacity, you will be advised and offered a place on our waitlist – basic information including your teen’s name, your email and contact number will be stored in our system and we will advise when we have capacity.
3) Our program therapist will then review the initial questionnaire results and contact you to arrange your teen’s individual intake appointment.
4) An invoice will be issued to you to to set up direct debit payments (or for payment in full).
5) After the intake appointment has been completed, your teen will be provided with a start date to begin attending group sessions.
I think this could be great for my teen, but I’m not sure about committing to the group program.
We understand that committing to the 12-session DBT 4 Teens program can feel daunting for families. In this situation, it may be helpful to book in with our therapist for 1:1 sessions to begin your teen’s DBT skill building journey. Contact jen@odts.com.au to discuss this option.
Do you offer Medicare or private health insurance rebates?
At this time our therapist is not offering Medicare rebates. Private health funds and levels of cover vary considerably so you would need to check specifically with your fund about what may be covered.