From Panic to Peace: Real Progress with DBT Psychotherapy for Teens
Maybe it starts with a peer leaving them on “read”, or a missed assignment. Then behind a closed door your teen is curled up in their room. Chest tightening, hands sweating, and their thoughts are spiraling. You enter the room to try and help, to reach them, telling them to breathe, or that it's not a big deal but their mind is racing, and their body is in overdrive. You just can’t get through. Your teenager is experiencing anxiety symptoms or experiencing a panic attack.
If you’ve watched your teens spiral into anxiety or panic, you’re not alone. Panic attacks and anxiety are becoming increasingly common. These are not just phases or a teenager looking for attention. The symptoms are real, overwhelming and can be paralyzing.
But there's good news. There is a structured therapy designed specifically to help teens break free from the anxiety spirals, called Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT). It has helped bring a lot of young people from panic to peace.
Real-Time DBT Tools That Really Work
Teenager anxiety can be difficult because it can show up at any time, and it’s seemingly unpredictable. Panic can happen anywhere, at home, at school, soccer practice or even when scrolling social media.
DBT helps because it equips teens with real-time, real-world skills they can use in the moment when anxiety strikes.
Here are some examples of tools that can be helpful for your teen:
Breathing and grounding techniques: DBT teaches teens how to recognize the early signs of panic attacks and use mindful breathing to slow their physiological response.
Distraction and Distress Tolerance skills: They help interrupt the anxiety loop before it spirals out of control. Whether it's holding an ice cube to bring the mind back to the present, listening to a calm playlist, or physically getting up to change their environment; these skills provide concrete actions that are easy to follow.
Opposite Action: An empowering tool that teaches teens to do the opposite of what their anxiety is telling them to do. When anxiety tells a teen to stay in bed DBT teaches them how to gently challenge those fears. It’s not about ignoring or suppressing anxiety, it's about building resilience and creating a behavioural change.
DBT Is More Than Coping
DBT is backed by decades of clinical research. It’s been used to treat a variety of emotional disorders and has also been adapted to treat a range of mental health struggles commonly seen in teens like anxiety, panic and emotional dysregulation.
Your teen can expect to work with our experienced psychotherapists to work through anxiety triggers and subsequent goals. They aren’t just talking about their problems; they’re learning how to solve them. Teens can go from struggling with panic to being able to confidently navigate school and all unpredictable challenges they face.
From Panic to Peace — It’s Possible to Treat Teenager Anxiety with DBT
If you’re a parent watching your teen struggle with anxiety, or a teen feeling overwhelmed by panic, know this: change is possible. DBT offers real progress, and with practice, patience and the right support, you can start living a life of peace.
It's important to tackle these feelings now to help set up your child for the future. They can grow to start waking up capable, able to handle stress and manage their emotions. This will only benefit them as they navigate the next stages in life.
Healing Voices Psychotherapy is here to give your teen the tools they need to treat their anxiety. If you’re looking to help your teen with anxiety, please reach out to us today to book a virtual appointment with us.
