Building Skills for Life: The Lasting Impact of DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy)

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to mental health care. For individuals navigating depression, anxiety, overwhelming stress, substance use, or trauma, effective support often requires flexibility, creativity, and care tailored to the whole person.

Comprehensive Community Services (CCS) offers just that. CCS can connect those eligible for Medicaid to a wide range of supports — from traditional talk therapy and psychiatry to specialized, community-based services like art therapy, music therapy, occupational therapy, and more.

For one youth and their family, it also opened the door to a life-changing experience with Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

Emily first began struggling with mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Then in 2022, she became involved online with someone who was not who they claimed to be.

“Emily was only 12 at the time,” her mom, Jennifer, shared. “It really opened my eyes to how good kids are with technology. Even with all the barriers and precautions I had in place, she was still able to meet people and talk to people I wasn’t aware of.”

That situation ended with police involvement, and furthered Emily’s battle with her own mental health.

“Watching her suffer was so hard,” Jennifer said. “I felt I needed to do something.”

A search for help led Jennifer to Katie Beckett Medicaid and eventually to CCS, where Emily was connected to a variety of supports.

“Emily does traditional talk therapy, equine therapy, and horsemanship.”

Her therapist at Wellpoint Care Network, Moriah, then introduced her to a DBT skills group through Washington County CCS.

DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) is a unique, evidence-based approach that teaches practical skills for managing emotions, navigating relationships, and coping with distress. DBT focuses on four core skill areas:

• Mindfulness: This is the practice of being fully aware and focused on the present instead of worrying about the past or future.
• Distress tolerance: This involves understanding and managing emotions in difficult or stressful situations without responding with harmful behaviors.
• Interpersonal effectiveness: This means understanding how to ask for what you want and need and setting boundaries while maintaining respect for yourself and others.
• Emotion regulation: This means understanding, being more aware of and having more control over your emotions.

Last year, Emily participated in a DBT skills group, where youth attend alongside a caregiver. She completed one six-month cycle with her dad.

“The focus was really helping them learn how to communicate better, manage those big feelings, and work through things,” said Jennifer. “I saw so much progress through that first six months.”

Emily then participated in a second six-month cycle, this time with her mom.

Two cycles are the recommended dosage for DBT skills groups, and Emily is the first youth in the program so far to complete both cycles.

“The first time through, she learned all these skills, but they weren’t necessarily cemented,” Jennifer explained. “Going through it a second time really helped solidify those lessons. She had the general knowledge already, and then she was almost helping teach me some of the skills.”

Participating in DBT alongside her daughter gave Jennifer new tools, and a new way of connecting that changed their relationship for the better.

“It helped me see her side of things and think from the other person’s perspective in ways you normally wouldn’t,” she shared. “It gives you the knowledge and experience to have those conversations and use those skills in real time.”

Since participating, Jennifer has seen her daughter use DBT skills in several everyday scenarios, and especially when it came to her first high school relationship.

“Watching her use those skills — learning how to communicate, set boundaries, have patience — has been just fantastic,” she said.

Jennifer sees DBT as valuable not only for those facing mental health challenges, but for anyone who wants to build stronger communication and interpersonal skills.  

“There’s a lot less face-to-face conversation nowadays,” she said. “DBT helps make those in-person conversations less difficult — reading body language, listening, repeating back what someone said. You can apply it at school, at work, anywhere.”

Looking back, Jennifer describes the experience as “life-changing.”

“Seeing Emily four years ago compared to where she is now is night and day,” she said. “Without DBT, I don’t know where we’d be. These are skills she’ll use for the rest of her life.”

The impact has even shaped Emily’s future goals.

“Going through all of this really set the trajectory for what she wants to do with the rest of her schooling,” Jennifer shared. “She is now pursuing a career in music therapy.”

For families navigating complex mental health challenges, Emily’s story is a powerful reminder: with the right support and the right skills, real and lasting change is possible.

Learn about the mental health services available at Wellpoint Care Network and start your healing journey today.