Teen DBT in Practice: A Comprehensive Guide for Therapists Treating High-Risk Behaviors - Softcover

May, Katie K.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1805019643 ISBN 13: 9781805019640

Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2026

Synopsis

Supporting adolescents who engage in high-risk behaviors requires a therapeutic approach that is structured, compassionate, and clinically rigorous. Teen DBT in Practice provides therapists with a clear, step-by-step framework for delivering Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to young people with consistency and confidence. Emphasising structure, flexibility, and fidelity, the book offers practical guidance for addressing self-harm and suicidal behaviors in young people.

Written by a Linehan board-certified DBT clinician, this guide integrates individual therapy, skills training, caregiver involvement, and phone coaching into a unified, adolescent-specific model. It includes ready-to-use tools such as guidance on diary cards, session outlines, treatment hierarchies, commitment strategies, and creative, teen-friendly interventions designed for real-world clinical settings.

Grounded in extensive clinical practice, Teen DBT in Practice supports immediate implementation while prioritising progress tracking, family collaboration, and therapist sustainability, making it an essential resource for clinicians delivering ethical, effective DBT with high-risk teens.

About this title

About the Author

Katie K. May is a Linehan board-certified Dialectical Behavior Therapy clinician and the owner and executive director of Creative Healing. A national trainer and speaker, she specialises in working with adolescents experiencing depression, self-harm, and suicidal behaviors. Katie brings over a decade of clinical experience to her work and is committed to helping teens build lives worth living while supporting therapists to deliver effective, sustainable care. She is based in Pennsylvania.

Edition details

• Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
• Publication date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1805019643
• ISBN 13: 9781805019640
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 224