The Adolescent DBT and Family Resiliency Program exists to provide standard Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to teens and their families in the St. Louis Region. Some common struggles of teens who typically benefit from DBT may include experiencing life-interfering symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress. Teens may be struggling with relationships, thoughts and behaviors related to self-harm, and other unhealthy behaviors they may wish to change, but feel are out of their control.
Our program aims to teach teens and their families the skills and tools to reduce crisis behaviors, decrease hospital visits, and empower healthy relationships that lead to a life worth living.
ADBT integrates the expertise of medical doctors, social workers, therapists, case managers, and student learners to provide a full spectrum of high-quality care unparalleled in our region.
What is DBT?
DBT involves four separate components that work together to form the therapy. Comprehensive treatment (Standard DBT) must include 4 components of the therapy:
1. Individual DBT: In weekly individual therapy sessions, teens work with therapists to apply the skills learned in group therapy to incorporate them into daily life. The primary focus is on individualizing the skills for each teen’s unique challenges.
2. Multifamily Skills Groups: A group of teens and caregivers will join together once weekly to learn the elements of DBT: Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, Interpersonal Effectiveness, and Walking the Middle Path. DBT groups are similar to a class, and teens and caregivers are asked to listen, take notes, and participate in exercises and discussions. The atmosphere of a multifamily skills group is one of positive problem-solving and focusing on how to manage challenging situations effectively.
3. Phone Coaching: This is a unique and powerful way to further generalize and reinforce the skills taught in the DBT group. During a coaching call, the goal of the therapist and group leaders is to help teens and caregivers take the skills learned in group and successfully apply them to their regular environment.
4. Consultation Team: Our DBT care team meets to obtain consultation, training, and help to be as effective as possible with their patient work. In this meeting, each clinician is employing and exercising the same skills that our teens and families learn in group therapy with each other. The purpose of this meeting is to help increase success, increase motivation, decrease burnout, and for therapists to get the help and support they need to best help the patient.
Program Length
Standard DBT treatment evolves over 12 months to help teens and families learn the skills and tools needed to develop a life worth living. The teen’s growth and progress are re-evaluated with families at the 6-month mark to make recommendations for continued DBT treatment or to recommend a different type of treatment.
Additional Services Offered
We know that families have varied needs, so we offer several services, including, but not limited to: Family therapy, caregiver coaching and emotional support, and caregiver support and education groups. We also help with referrals to both internal resources, like nutrition and occupational therapy, and a case manager can help connect you with beneficial community resources.
Referral and Contact Information
If you are a provider within the WashU / BJC / SLCH system, as of October 15, 2025 you will no longer be able to use the “REF80 or Ambulatory referral to pediatric psychiatry” when referring to the programs. The new referral order will be “REF801 or ambulatory referral to WU CONNECT”.
Information about the ADBT program can be obtained by calling 314.747.1058.