DIALECTICAL BEHAVIOR THERAPY FOR CHILDREN (DBT-C)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Children (DBT-C) was developed by Dr. Francheska Perepletchikova as a targeted therapeutic approach for children, pre-teens, and younger adolescents who experience chronic emotional dysregulation. DBT-C retains the basic orientation, principles, and strategies of adult-focused DBT, but is adapted to meet the developmental needs of younger individuals. Additionally, DBT-C emphasizes the crucial partnership between caregivers and therapists, focusing on involving caregivers in developing effective strategies to support the child’s emotional well-being from the onset of treatment.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Children (DBT-C) can be quite beneficial for all children who struggle with regulating their emotions. However, DBT-C is especially useful for children who are “Supersensers”. A "Supersenser" is a term used to describe a child who possesses heightened emotional sensitivity and experiences intense emotions more profoundly than their peers. These children often struggle with regulating their emotions, exhibiting extreme reactions to everyday stimuli. They might display intense temper outbursts, have difficulty tolerating frustration, and find it challenging to return to a calm emotional state after becoming upset.
Supersensers may also grapple with managing their emotions in ways that can be harmful, such as engaging in self-injurious behaviors, extreme tantrums, or even showing signs of aggression. Despite their struggles, they possess a unique ability to intensely experience and perceive emotions, almost like a superpower. However, this heightened emotional sensitivity often makes it challenging for them to navigate daily life and regulate their reactions effectively without proper support and guidance.
PARENTING SUPERSENSERS
Parenting a "Supersenser" can be both rewarding and challenging. These children possess intense emotional sensitivity, experiencing feelings deeply and often exhibit strong reactions to situations that might seem minor to others. Here is what it can be like:
REWARDING ASPECTS
Emotional Depth
You witness your child’s remarkable emotional depth, their ability to connect deeply with experiences, and their profound empathy for others.
Unique Perspective
Supersensers often have a unique and insightful perspective on the world, which can offer profound insights and understanding.
Creativity and Passion
They might demonstrate incredible creativity, passion, and enthusiasm for things that interest them.
CHALLENGES
Emotional Intensity
Managing their intense emotions and helping them navigate through these emotions can be overwhelming. They might have frequent emotional outbursts or struggle to regulate their feelings.
Sensitive to Stimuli
Supersensers can be highly sensitive to various stimuli—sounds, textures, or situations—leading to sensory overload or distress.
Difficulty in Coping
They might find it challenging to cope with stress, frustration, or disappointment, leading to difficulties in daily functioning.
Parenting a Supersenser involves navigating a unique emotional landscape and fostering an environment that supports their emotional well-being while also helping them develop effective coping mechanisms to thrive in their daily lives. Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Children (DBT-C) focuses on helping parents create a supportive environment that nurtures their child’s distinct needs while also helping the child develop adaptive coping skills.
GOALS OF DBT-C
The goals of Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Children (DBT-C) revolve around helping children develop the essential skills to manage emotions, navigate relationships, and enhance their overall well-being. The development of a close partnership between parents/caregivers and the therapist is crucial for the development of an environment that validates the Supersensers emotions and fosters their behavioral growth. The DBT-C therapist helps parents develop the necessary skills that help nurture the Supersenser’s self-esteem, security, and sense of belonging, thus enhancing the parent-child relationship.
SOME KEY GOALS OF DBT-C INCLUDE:
Diagnosis and mental health conditions that respond well to DBT include:
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Emotion Regulation:
Teaching children strategies to identify, understand, and effectively manage their emotions, especially intense and overwhelming feelings.
Distress Tolerance:
Equipping children with tools to tolerate distressing situations, manage crises, and cope with stress without engaging in harmful behaviors.
Interpersonal Effectiveness:
Helping children build healthy relationships, improve communication skills, and navigate social interactions effectively.
Mindfulness:
Encouraging the practice of mindfulness to enhance self-awareness, focus, and the ability to be present in the moment.Â
Enhancing Coping Mechanisms:
Teaching adaptive coping skills to handle difficult situations, manage conflicts, and respond to challenges in a healthier way.
Building Self-Esteem:
Fostering a sense of self-worth and promoting a positive self-image, allowing children to develop confidence in themselves.
Engaging Caregivers:
Involving caregivers in the therapeutic process, helping them support and reinforce the child’s skills learned in therapy within the home environment.
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Preventing Self-Harm:
Minimizing and preventing self-injurious behaviors, teaching alternative ways to manage distress without resorting to harmful actions.
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Improving Functioning:
Supporting children in enhancing their daily functioning at home, school, and in social settings by employing learned skills in various situations.
These goals are aimed at empowering children to navigate life’s challenges, regulate their emotions effectively, and build the necessary skills to live fulfilling and adaptive lives.
HIERARCHY OF TREATMENT TARGETS
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In Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Children (DBT-C), the hierarchy of treatment targets outlines the areas of focus and priorities during therapy. These targets guide the therapeutic process to address the most critical needs first. The hierarchy typically includes three main categories, subdivided into 10 subcategories:
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I. DECREASE RISK OF PSYCHOPATHOLOTY IN THE FUTURE
1.Life-threatening behaviors of a child: Prioritizing immediate interventions for behaviors that pose a direct threat to the child’s life, such as suicidal acts, suicidal ideation or self-harm.
2.Therapy-destroying behaviors of a child: Addressing behaviors that undermine the effectiveness of therapy, such as consistent resistance or opposition to treatment.
3.Therapy-interfering behaviors of parents: Identifying and addressing parental behaviors that impede the progress of therapy sessions.
4.Parental emotion regulation: Supporting parents in managing their own emotions effectively to create a more stable environment for the child.
5.Effective parenting techniques: Providing guidance and strategies to parents to enhance their parenting skills and interactions with the child.
II. TARGET PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP
1.Improve parent-child relationship: Focusing on enhancing the quality of the relationship between the child and their caregivers, fostering a more supportive and nurturing environment.
III. TARGET CHILD'S PRESENTING PROBLEMS
1.Risky, unsafe, and aggressive behaviors: Addressing immediate and risky behaviors exhibited by the child, aiming to minimize harm and promote safety.
2.Quality-of-life-interfering problems: Tackling issues that significantly impact the child’s quality of life, such as emotional dysregulation or impairments in functioning.
3.Skills training: Teaching the child essential coping skills, emotion regulation techniques, and interpersonal skills to navigate challenges more effectively.
4.Therapy-interfering behaviors of a child: Addressing behaviors exhibited by the child that disrupt or impede the progress of therapy sessions.
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DBT-C treatment follows a systematic structure, addressing critical concerns in a hierarchical manner, starting from immediate safety concerns and progressively targeting various aspects impacting the child’s well-being and the therapeutic process.
OVERVIEW OF TREATMENT
During the initial phase of DBT-C, Supersensers and their caregivers will participate in a thorough comprehensive diagnostic interview. Subsequently, caregivers will meet with the therapist to help them create a validating and change ready environment.
After the initial focus on parents, Supersensers will engage in individual therapy sessions aimed at exploring challenging situations and developing new coping strategies. They will also receive skills training during sessions and will be encouraged to practice those skills outside of therapy. Supersensers and their caregivers are both required to practice DBT-C skills in the home environment.
The DBT-C therapist guides parents in supporting the Supersenser’s use of adaptive behavioral coping skills. Similar to traditional DBT, DBT-C includes phone coaching, but it is directed towards parents. this coaching serves as a tool to help families apply new strategies for managing intense emotions. additionally, based on the Supersenser’s history, the DBT-C provider may implement other evidence-based treatments in order to treat other co-occurring difficulties not fully addressed by DBT-C such as traumatic stress or ADHD.
If your Supersenser is experiencing difficulties regulating emotions, navigating relationships, or facing behavioral challenges, please feel free to reach out to us. Compassionate and effective DBT-C treatment can help guide your Supersenser through their unique emotional and behavioral landscape. As the primary provider of DBT-C, Dr. Brian Hanson brings years of specialized experience working with children and caregivers, nurturing emotional resilience, improving family dynamics, and transforming lives. Empower your child to thrive emotionally and contact Dr. Brian Hanson to embark on a journey towards a brighter, more emotionally balanced future for your Supersenser.