Free Course

DBT Skills for Parents

Learn the skills your teen is learning, so you can speak the same language at home

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is the most extensively researched treatment for emotionally intense adolescents. This 7-module course teaches parents the same four skill sets their teen learns in DBT-A: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. It also covers validation, the skill that research identifies as the single most powerful tool parents have for de-escalating emotional crises.

Written for parents who want to understand what their teen is experiencing, learn concrete strategies for responding to intense emotions, and build a home environment that supports rather than undermines their teen's progress.

7 modules 4 parts ~35 min total reading Evidence-based

This course is the self-directed component of the Child & Teen Therapy Program, which also includes individual DBT-A therapy and multifamily skills groups. Browse all child & teen therapy resources.

Course Modules

Part I: Understanding DBT

1
What DBT Is and Why It Works for Teens Free preview

Part II: The Four Skills

2
Mindfulness for Parents For Everyone
3
Distress Tolerance For Parents
4
Emotion Regulation For Parents
5
Interpersonal Effectiveness For Everyone

Part III: The Parent's Role

6
Validation: The Skill Parents Aren't Using For Parents

Part IV: Putting It Together

7
Building a DBT-Informed Home For Everyone

Continue the course

Module 1 is free to read. Enter your email to unlock all 7 modules.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is DBT?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based treatment developed by Marsha Linehan for people whose emotions are so intense that standard therapy is insufficient. DBT-A is the adolescent adaptation, which includes parents as active participants in the treatment process.

Why should parents learn DBT skills?

Research shows that when parents learn the same skills their teen is learning in DBT, treatment outcomes improve significantly. Parents who can validate emotions, tolerate distress without escalating, and model emotional regulation create a home environment that reinforces what their teen is practicing in therapy.

Is this course free?

Yes. All 7 modules are free and written by a licensed clinician with training in DBT for adolescents. The course covers the four core skill sets: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.

What age range is this for?

This course is designed for parents of adolescents (roughly ages 12 to 18) who are experiencing intense emotions, self-harm, or crisis behaviors. The skills themselves are applicable across ages, but the examples and context focus on the parent-teen relationship.

Does my teen need to be in DBT for this course to help?

No. While the course is designed to complement a teen's DBT treatment, the skills are valuable for any parent navigating intense emotions with their adolescent. The mindfulness and validation modules in particular apply to a wide range of parenting challenges.

About the author

Brian Nuckols, MA, LPC-A, is a licensed professional counselor associate in Pittsburgh, PA. He has training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy for adolescents and works with teens experiencing intense emotions, self-harm, and crisis behaviors. This course draws on the work of Marsha Linehan, Alec Miller, Jill Rathus, and other leaders in DBT research and practice.