DBT for teens and young adults
I work with people who are figuring out who they are, where they’re going, and how to manage everything that comes with growing up and becoming your own person. DBT can help us slow things down when feelings feel intense, messy, or hard to manage.
How I use it
Katie McHugh, LCSW
With DBT, I pay attention to the moment when feeling starts to take over and what happens after that. We work on staying with the feeling long enough to understand it, then choosing what to do next with more intention. For teens and young adults, that can include how they handle conflict, pressure, and the parts of the day that feel hardest to steady.
We focus on what’s happening in the moment and what to do with it.
Who it tends to suit
People often come in when their emotions feel hard to hold, especially in stressful moments or tense relationships. They may feel overwhelmed by what they’re feeling, react quickly, or have trouble cooling down once something gets set off. Sometimes they’re tired of feeling pulled around by their reactions and want more steadiness in everyday life. DBT gives us a structure for looking at that without shutting down the feeling itself.
- I get overwhelmed and don’t know what to do next.
- I react before I’ve thought it through.
- My feelings go from zero to ten fast.
- I’m tired of being yanked around by my emotions.
What the first sessions look like
In the first sessions, we talk about the situations that tend to set things off and what happens next. We also look at what kind of support or tools might be useful, while keeping the work focused on your actual life rather than abstract ideas.
What I use it for
- AnxietyTeens and young adults with worry that keeps getting in the way.
- Self-DoubtTeens and young adults who keep second-guessing themselves.
- Relationship StressTeens and young adults stuck in tense or confusing relationships.
- Life ChangesTeens and young adults facing a big change and feeling unsettled.
Questions people ask
How is DBT different from regular talk therapy?
DBT puts more focus on what happens in the moment and how you respond to it. We still talk, but we use the conversation to understand the feeling and what comes next.
Can DBT help with feeling overwhelmed in relationships?
Yes, that’s a common place for DBT to be useful. We can look at what gets triggered and how you want to respond when things get intense.
Do you use DBT with teens?
I do. Teens often have a lot going on at once, and DBT gives us a way to work with that directly.
Will DBT make me talk about everything at once?
No. We start with what feels most active or most disruptive and work from there.
About Katie McHugh Psychotherapy
Katie McHugh offers therapy for teens in New York for anxiety, self-doubt, relationship stress, and life changes. My first session starts with what brings you in.
Talk it through with Katie
Tell us what has been going on and we will take it from there.