Family Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy with Adolescents: Part I: Proposing a Clinical Synthesis

Although the practice of family therapy in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) with multiproblem suicidal adolescents is common and generally indicated, particular model has yet to be delineated with this age group. The purpose of this article is to propose a coherent clinical synthesis of the more individually oriented DBT strategies with a broader family-systems orientation that maintains the integrity of both theoretical approaches while addressing treatment needs of adolescents and their families. First, the authors briefly review the literature. Second, they describe the core dialectic of DBT, balancing acceptance and change, and its relevance to family therapy. Finally, the authors propose several specific acceptance and change strategies useful when implementing DBT family therapy with multi-problem adolescents.