Parent Guide: Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

While at Four Winds Hospital your child has been learning about DBT and learning DBT skills to manage his/her emotions in a more successful way. It might be helpful for you to know these skills so you can help your child when he/she returns home. They are useful for adults as well!

When your child becomes angry he/she has learned to:

  • Be mindful and remove self from situation and breathe deeply
  • Use opposite action and walk AWAY rather than attack
  • Use mindfulness skills like 3-2-1 or the Color Game
  • Look at the Pros and Cons of actions

When your child becomes very sad he/she has learned to:

  • Journal about feelings
  • Practice Radical Acceptance
  • Use opposite action and be with others rather than isolate
  • Be mindful of the urges to hurt self without actually doing it

When your child becomes anxious he/she has learned to:

  • Practice mindfulness by taking deep breaths and focusing on the breath
  • Distract by getting involved fully in an activity
  • Recognize that their feelings will not last forever

When you and your child have a disagreement he/she has learned to

  • Use the GIVE skill
  • Walk the Middle Path

What can you do when you see your children struggling?

  • Let them know that you understand how difficult things are for them at the moment-validate them
  • Encourage them to use the skills they have learned
  • Try not to give them a lot of attention after they have acted in an unhealthy manner so you do not reinfore the behavior-be matter of fact, not emotional
  • Thank them for coming to you for help with a problem before they act out
  • Try to be non-judgmental and handle the situation in a matter of fact manner rather than react emotionally

Guía para padres sobre la terapia dialéctica conductual

We Are Here To Help

Four Winds Hospitals are committed to serving our patients. Please know that, as always, the health and safety of our patients and staff is our highest priority as we continue to provide treatment during this time of crisis. We are continuing to accept inpatient referrals for children, adolescents and adults and invite you to call our Admissions Office directly at 
1-800-528-6624 or
1-914-763-8151
, select prompt "1" to be connected. 

We have implemented measures for the protection 
of those on our campus in response to the Covid-19 crisis, following the directions of 
both the CDC and  DOH, and our own protocols. As we remain committed to providing the very best in mental health care, please let us know if we can help.

Four Winds Saratoga

30 Crescent Avenue
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Phone: 518-584-3600
Toll-Free: 1-800-888-5448