DBT Teen Skills Perth

Improving Families Lives Through DBT Skills: Wave Riding: Move with Your Emotions, Shape Your Journey

Ages 14- 16 2025 Dates 12 th February 2025 to 30 th April (12 weeks). 4pm- 6:15pm

Discover the benefits of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) for teens and their families in WA’s first private practice to offer DBT Skills for Teens and Families under the supervision of WA’s first psychologist (Dr Keren Geddes) to adapt, research and implement DBT Teen Skills  in WA.  At Aresolutions’ DBT  Skills and Families Program, we are committed to improving young people’s  lives through evidence-based therapy techniques that promote emotional regulation and healthy relationships.

DBT Skills Wave Riding is a dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) initiative tailored for individuals aged 14-16 struggling with challenges in emotion and behaviour regulation. 

DBT skills are suitable for those who have difficulty regulating their feelings, struggling with friendships, having difficulty at school and conflict at home. 

Those teenagers engaging in self-harm, experiencing significant suicidal ideation, or have severe developmental delay are more appropriately served by individual therapy, more diagnostically tailored group therapy programs or inpatient group therapy services. 

Understanding the Wave Riding DBT Skills and Families Program (Teen and Caregiver attending)

Our DBT Teen Skills Program offers a unique and cohesive experience for both parents and teens age 14 to 16. Over the course of 12 weeks, you will connect with five other parent-teen pairs to learn new skills, reflect, and share some of your experiences.

The DBT Teen Skills Program is skill-based rather than therapeutic. We encourage participants to share their experiences with the skills in the context of family application. However, you are not required to delve deeply into personal life stories during group sessions. This approach ensures a safe space for meaningful connections with your teen and other families.

We recognise that adolescence can be a challenging time for both teens and their families. Emotional dysregulation, impulsive behaviours, and difficulties in relationships are common issues that can significantly impact a teenager’s well-being. That’s why we have used the comprehensive DBT program specifically tailored to address the unique needs of teens and their families.

Our Wave Riding DBT Skills Training program is suitable for teens aged 14-16  experiencing some or all of the following:

  • Mild mental health difficulties: anxiety and depressed mood
  • Difficulties with emotional regulation and mood states
  • Relationship difficulties manifesting as conflict with family and friends/peers
  • Feelings of hopelessness, emptiness or identity confusion
  • Problem behaviours such as  school avoidance and disturbed eating

What you will learn in Wave Riding DBT Skills Training?

Aresolution offers a 12-week DBT Skills Group covering key components to help teens and their caregiver ride the waves and ride the waves together:

Wave Riding, Move with Your Emotions

  • Mindfulness: Teaching teens to recognise different states of mind to manage emotions, behaviours, and decision-making.
  • Distress Tolerance: Providing crisis survival tools for home and school, and teaching radical acceptance of unchangeable circumstances.
  • Emotional Regulation: Reducing vulnerability to negative emotions and increasing positive emotions.

Shaping the Journey

  • Walking the Middle Path: A new skills module for teens and families, including:
    • Dialectics: Honouring multiple truths to enhance perspective-taking and problem-solving.
    • Validation: Increasing connection, conveying understanding, and soothing emotions.
    • Behaviour Change: Teaching effective behaviour change techniques.

Riding the Waves Together

  • Interpersonal Effectiveness: Managing and improving relationships, asking for needs, reducing conflict, and maintaining self-respect.

The program concludes with a Skills Graduation Ceremony to mark the completion of the course for adolescents and caregivers.

What is Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)?

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based treatment that was initially developed by psychologist Marsha M. Linehan originally to help individuals with borderline personality disorder. Over time, DBT has proven to be highly effective in treating a range of mental health issues, including symptoms of emotional dysregulation, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and substance abuse. Thus it is proving useful for individuals with ADHD, mood disorders, PTSD and Binge eating. 

DBT combines elements of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) with mindfulness techniques to help individuals develop skills in emotional regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness. By focusing on building these skills, DBT equips individuals with the tools they need to navigate life’s challenges and improve the quality of their relationships.

Program steps for 2024

Here are some key dates to help you plan your availability for the 14 to 16 yr old DBT Skills for Teens and Parents

2025 Dates 12 th February 2025 to 30 th April (12 weeks). 4pm- 6:15pm

Step 1: Complete our referral form

Step 2: Intake session and assessment of suitability:  Book with our team for July (75 minute intake session and standard fees apply)

Step 3: Course date: Between Wed 21st August and Wed 13th November

DBTeen Referral Form

Topics we can help with

FAQ

Aresolution is offering 12-week DBTeen skills groups which will cover the following key components:

  1. Mindfulness – Teaching teens to recognize different states of mind and use them to help manage emotions, behaviours and decision-making Breaking down mindfulness into 6 behavioural skills: The What and the How
  2. Distress tolerance – Getting through crises without making the situation worse. Arming teens and families with an array of crisis survival tools for home and school. Teaching teens how to radically accept circumstances they cannot change.
  3. Walking the Middle Path: Teaching the new skills module developed for teens and families. This module includes:
    1. Dialectics: Learning how to honour multiple truths in order to enhance perspective taking and problem-solving
    2. Validation: The powerful tool to increase connection, convey understanding, and soothe emotions in oneself and others
    3. Behaviour change: Teaching teens and caregivers how to effectively change behaviours in the way they want
  4. Emotional Regulation: Teaching teens and caregivers how to reduce their vulnerability to negative emotions while learning how to increase positive emotions Learning how to reduce mood-dependent behaviours: Changing or reducing unwanted emotions
  5. Interpersonal Effectiveness: Teaching the fundamentals of managing and improving relationships. Helping teens and parents learn how to ask for what they need, reduce conflict, and maintain their self-respect. 

At the completion of the 12 weeks there is a skills graduation ceremony: Marking the completion of the skills course with adolescents and caregivers

Teen and Parent/Carer attendance – Attendance with the nominated caregiver helps foster support. 

12 week program – The teen and carer commit to 3 hrs weekly for 12 weeks. 

On demand phone coaching – Our psychologists will be available for 20 minute phone coaching sessions for additional fees

Individual therapy – Separate to the group program the teen will attend weekly/biweekly therapy sessions with our psychologists or yours.

Our fee structure is carefully designed to cover the essential costs associated with our services, including the provision of two psychologists, one clinician and their weekly supervision. The fees are due monthly with the first payment due one month prior to the commencement of the program. Rebates are processed after attendance at each session. A fixed program fee ensures that all clients are treated fairly, with clear, predictable, and standardised costs. This approach simplifies the financial aspects of participating in healthcare programs and makes them more accessible to everyone. Full program fees are due regard. 

For a 12-week program costing $5556 per family, with each session priced at $231.50 per person:

Medicare Rebate: Clients get a rebate of $45.65 per session for the first 10 sessions.

Safety Net Benefits: After reaching the Medicare safety net, clients get additional rebates, reducing their out-of-pocket costs.

Total Out-of-Pocket Costs: Clients can calculate their total expenses upfront, so they know what to expect financially.

Total estimated Out-of-Pocket Expense for the 12-Week Program: $2867.97 for both family members to attend if the safety net threshold is 0 prior to program commencement. 

Total estimated Out-of-Pocket Cost for the 12-Week Program: $1669.40 for both family members with MHCP if the safety net threshold is reached prior to program commencement. 

Additional rebates may be obtained for some sessions with Private Health Fund rebates. 

*Medicare rebates are only available for attended sessions. Please note that missed sessions do not result in fee reductions or refunds or medicare rebates however your quote includes 2 sessions without medicare rebates. We encourage all participants to commit to attending each scheduled session to maximise the benefits of the program and promote collective progress. The provided out-of-pocket estimate for the group therapy program is based on current Medicare rebate rates and eligibility criteria. Actual costs may vary depending on individual circumstances, changes in government policy, and other factors. It is recommended to consult with relevant accountants, Medicare, or qualified professionals for personalised cost assessments and accurate information regarding potential rebates and expenses

The benefits of DBT for teens and families are far-reaching and can have a transformative impact on their lives. Here are some of the key benefits:

  1. Improved Emotional Regulation: DBT helps teens develop effective strategies for managing and regulating their emotions. By learning skills such as identifying and labelling emotions, understanding the function of emotions, and applying healthy coping mechanisms, teens can gain better control over their emotional responses.
  2. Reduced Self-Harming Behaviours: For teens who engage in self-harm Behaviours, DBT offers alternatives and healthier coping mechanisms. Through skills such as distress tolerance and mindfulness, teens can learn to manage emotional distress without resorting to self-destructive Behaviours.
  3. Enhanced Interpersonal Skills: DBT focuses on improving communication and interpersonal effectiveness. Teens learn how to express their needs and boundaries, navigate conflicts, and build healthy relationships. These skills not only benefit the teen but also contribute to a more harmonious family dynamic.
  4. Stronger Family Connections: The Teen and Families Program places a significant emphasis on involving the family in the therapy process. Family sessions provide an opportunity for open communication, understanding, and problem-solving. By addressing family dynamics and improving communication within the family system, DBT helps strengthen family connections and promote a supportive environment for the teen’s growth.

The Teen and Families Program operates on the principles of DBT, offering a structured and comprehensive approach to therapy. Here’s an overview of how the program works:

  1. Individual Therapy (At Aresolution or with your primary psychologist if suitable): Each teen enrolled in the program is assigned a dedicated psychologist who provides one-on-one sessions. These sessions focus on helping the teen develop and practise the skills learned in the program, while also addressing individual challenges and goals. 

Rebates – The teens mental health care plan and private health can be utilised for these sessions

  1. Skills Training Groups (Aresolution): Weekly 3 hr skills training groups are an essential component of the Teen and Families Program. In these groups, the teen and their nominated caregiver learn and practise the four core DBT skills modules: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Led by experienced therapists, these groups provide a supportive environment for learning and growth.

Rebates – The teen and their nominated caregiver may be eligible for a mental health care plan referral for group therapy, separate to the individual referral. 

  1. Family Sessions (At Aresolution or with your private psychologist): Family sessions play a vital role in the Teen and Families Program. These sessions involve the teen, their parents or caregivers, and the therapist. The aim is to address family dynamics, improve communication and understanding, and develop strategies for supporting the teen’s progress. Family sessions provide an opportunity for the entire family to learn and grow together.

Rebates – Parent or adolescent Mental Health Care Plan items cannot be used for family therapy. Private Health Fund rebates may however be claimed. 

  1. Phone Coaching: The Teen and Families Program provides phone coaching as needed. This means that teens and their families have access to their therapist outside of scheduled sessions, offering support and guidance during challenging moments. These phone sessions are billed prorata and it is recommended that they are 20 minutes in duration. 

DBTeen represents a dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) initiative tailored for individuals aged 14-16 struggling with challenges in emotion and behaviour regulation. 

DBTeen is suitable for those teens who have difficulty regulating their feelings, struggling with friendships, having difficulty at school and or conflict at home 

Those engaging in self-harm, experiencing significant suicidal ideation, or have significant developmental delay are more appropriately served by individual therapy, diagnostically focused group programs or inpatient group therapy services. 

It is essential for one parent or adult caregiver to commit to and attend all 12 sessions alongside the young participant.

Our program offers a comprehensive approach that combines coaching, individual therapy, skills training groups, and family sessions to provide a support system for both the teen and their family.

With a focus on building skills such as mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness, our DBT program equips teens with the tools they need to navigate life’s challenges and experience long-lasting change. By addressing underlying emotional issues and enhancing communication within the family system, we empower both the teen and their loved ones to create a more harmonious and fulfilling life.

Please note that those teens who are currently engaged in hospital and community mental health services (such as CAMHS, CMHT, CATT, or hospital inpatient programs) are not eligible for participation until they have completed their program and are not at a high risk of requiring crisis support, which is likely to disrupt program completion. 

DBTeen Program Psychology Team

Keara Wood
Psychologist and Facilitator

Read More

Picture of Nadia
Nadia Smith-McColm
Psychologist and Facilitator

Read More

Dr Keren Geddes
Dr Keren Geddes
DBTeen Program Supervisor

Read More

Tasha Ouschan
Senior Psychologist and DBT practitioner

Read More

Where are you located?

Our main office is located in Applecross Community Village at Unit 7, 42 Ardross Street. You can find us above the Messy Munchies Cafe and can access our offices via our private rear entry at the top of the white staircase. We are conveniently located off the Kwinana Freeway (Canning Highway exit). Nearby suburbs include South Perth, Como, Booragoon, Victoria Park, Mount Pleasant, Rossmoyne, Willetton, and more.

Aresolution Community Partners

Health Engine
Health Engine
The Smith Family Australian Children’s Charity
Smith Family Australian Children’s Charity
Black Dog on a Lead
Black Dog on a Lead
Black Dog Institute
Black Dog Institute
National Disability Services
NDS
NDSP Plane Managers
NDSP Plan Managers
Australian Association of Psychologists INC
AApi
Reynolds Rd 7 Day Medical Center
Reynolds Road Medical
Discovery Family Therapy
Discovery Family Therapy (Allied Health Hub Partner)
Best Assessed Specialist Diagnostic Assessments
Best Assessed (Allied Health Hub Partner)
Legal Aspirations
Legal Aspirations
ST & A Psychology
ST&A Psychology

Our couch, Your private space

Our private and warmly appointed rooms provide the perfect space for you to begin your journey of self-development. We are located near Applecross Village with a private rear entry, upstairs at the back of the building. You can also book Online Therapy sessions.

Book Online

Make and manage your appointments online, our diary portal makes it easy.

BOOK ONLINE

To Book your Appointment Phone Today 08 6117 8019