Clinical Spotlight: Adolescent Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Program

The Adolescent Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Program at MIDB offers weekly individual therapy and family therapy held in person or via telehealth, weekly in-person multi-family skills group, and crisis phone coaching for teens and their guardians.

The purpose of DBT is to:

• decrease reduced awareness and focus and confusion about self; emotional dysregulation; impulsivity; interpersonal problems; and adolescent and family challenges
• replace problem behaviors with skillful behaviors  
• provide skills to help teens experience a range of emotions without acting on those emotions impulsively
• help teens navigate relationships in their environment (family/school/peers)
• help adolescents create a life worth living

The team is led by Daniel Landauer, PhD, LP, a child and adolescent psychologist and assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. The team also includes a licensed clinical social worker, two University of Minnesota Medical School psychology interns, and graduate student learners.

"Having learners in our program benefits patients because it increases their access to our services and offers them options for who they can see," said Landauer. "Expanding our team with learners allows us to be flexible and to connect patients and families with someone who is a good fit for their needs and preferences. The benefit to learners is they get exposure to a comprehensive DBT program and to youth who have complex mental health challenges, experiences that may not be available in many other places."

Who We Serve

The DBT Program serves adolescents who demonstrate significant difficulty with emotion regulation/mood stability, emotion-driven impulsivity, stress management, interpersonal relationship stability, self-injurious behavior, or suicidal ideation/behavior. Adolescents and their parents or guardians are asked to commit to at least six months of consistent treatment participation.

How Can I Refer a Patient or Learn More?

Referrals for DBT can be made in Epic. Please have the treating provider (e.g., physician, psychiatry provider) place an order in Epic if you are unable to do so.

To learn more or ask questions, contact Landauer at [email protected] or send a MyChart message to the DBT pool.