Dialectical Behavior Therapy as a Preventive Framework for Adolescents

Description

Arshia Mathur¹ and Monica Sharma² (Department of Psychology, IIS (deemed to be University), Jaipur, Rajasthan¹ and Department of Clinical Psychology, IIS (deemed to be University), Jaipur, Rajasthan²)

Adolescence is a formative yet vulnerable period marked by emotional instability, risk-taking, and heightened sensitivity to stress. Research has shown that adolescents are becoming increasingly susceptible to psychological distress day by day, making preventive interventions during this developmental stage a critical need. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), originally designed for clinical populations, has shown significant promise in enhancing emotional regulation, resilience, and interpersonal functioning. This theoretical paper proposes the application of DBT as a preventive intervention for adolescents, with a focus on cultivating emotional and social skills. Core DBT modules-mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness-are adapted to target key outcomes: emotional regulation, healthy sleep patterns, reduced risk-taking behaviour, improved self-efficacy, and strengthened resilience. By fostering these protective skills, DBT-based preventive training may equip adolescents with healthier coping mechanisms, reducing vulnerability to stress and future mental health disorders. This approach positions DBT not only as a therapeutic tool but also as a comprehensive preventive framework for adolescent mental health promotion.