A Counsellor’s Insight from Link To Us
As a counsellor working with children, teens, and families, I often meet young people who feel overwhelmed by big emotions they don’t quite understand. Many of them struggle to express what’s going on inside or find themselves reacting in ways that hurt themselves or those around them. That’s where Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) can be a transformative support tool.
At Link To Us, we specialise in working with young people experiencing emotional and behavioural challenges, and DBT is one of the therapeutic approaches we often use to help them feel safer, more in control, and better understood.
What Is DBT?
DBT, short for Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, is an evidence-based approach that focuses on helping people manage intense emotions, improve relationships, and build healthier coping strategies. While DBT was originally designed for adults, it’s been adapted over the years to suit the unique needs of children and adolescents—and it works.
The word “dialectical” simply means finding a balance between two things that seem opposite—like accepting yourself as you are, while also working toward change. This balance is at the heart of DBT.
Why Might a Child or Teen Benefit from DBT?
In my practice and in my personal life, as a single mum of two—one in primary school and the other a teenager who hit puberty early—I’ve used DBT-based strategies to support children and teens who:
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Struggle with intense emotions like anger, anxiety, sadness, self harm and suicidal thoughts
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Find it hard to manage impulses or make safe choices in the moment
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Feel overwhelmed by peer conflict, family stress, school pressure, cyber bullying or their changing bodies
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Have experienced trauma or loss and need help finding safety in their own body and mind
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Are learning to build better relationships and assert their needs without fear
DBT has helped bring calm to chaos—not just in the counselling space, but in our own family life.
It’s not about perfection, but about progress: small steps, breathing room, and learning to respond rather than react. I’ve seen the difference it can make when young people are given real tools, and when parents and carers are supported to model those tools too.
At Link To Us, we use DBT-informed approaches in a grounded, creative way—through conversations, art, movement, and mindfulness—to meet children and teens exactly where they are.
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Experience emotional outbursts or mood swings
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Have difficulty calming down or regulating big emotions
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Struggle with impulsive behaviours
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Show signs of anxiety, depression, or self-harming thoughts
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Find it difficult to maintain friendships or set healthy boundaries
When emotional dysregulation becomes a daily struggle, it can interfere with school, relationships, and a young person’s sense of identity and safety. DBT gives them tools to cope and thrive.
The Four Core DBT Skill Areas
DBT is practical and skills-based. The four core areas we work on are:
Mindfulness
Teaching children and teens how to notice what they’re feeling, thinking, and doing—without judgment. It’s about creating space between an emotion and a reaction.
Distress Tolerance
Helping them learn how to cope in a crisis moment—without acting impulsively or making things worse. Skills include distraction, breathing, grounding, and using the senses to self-soothe.
Emotion Regulation
Building awareness of their emotional patterns and offering practical tools to better manage them—like naming feelings, noticing triggers, and choosing calming strategies.
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Supporting young people to communicate more clearly, ask for what they need, set boundaries, and protect relationships—even in stressful moments.
How We Use DBT at Link To Us
We make DBT child-friendly and creative. For younger kids, this might mean learning skills through games, stories, art activities, reading, drawing or play-based therapy. For teens, we use real-life examples, visual tools, and journaling to make the work feel personal and relevant.
Importantly, we also involve families and caregivers where appropriate—so the child is supported not just in the therapy room but at home too.
Final Thoughts from a Counsellor’s Chair
DBT isn’t about “fixing” a child. It’s about empowering them to understand themselves better and equipping them with tools to navigate a sometimes overwhelming world. I’ve seen children as young as 7 begin to feel more confident, calm, and in control using DBT-informed strategies.
If you’re a parent, carer, or professional supporting a young person who struggles with emotions, DBT could be a step in the right direction. It’s never too early—or too late—to start learning how to feel, manage, and respond in healthier ways.
Need support or want to know more?
Feel free to reach out to us at Link To Us to see if DBT might be the right fit for your child or adolescent. We’re here to walk beside you, one mindful breath at a time
Written by Lorena Fernandez Collazo, Registered Clinical Counsellor (ACA)
