Difficulties in regulating painful emotions are central to the behavioral difficulties of many adolescents (see Characteristics of Unskilled vs Skilled below). From these individuals’ perspective, painful feelings are most often the “problems to be solved.” These behavioral difficulties might be considered ADHD, anxiety, or depression as many of the symptoms and behaviors overlap and interact. For example, studies have found that having an anxiety disorder in early or middle childhood can increase your child’s risk of developing a depressive disorder in later adolescence.  Both anxiety and depression can lead to dysfunctional behaviors, including suicidal behaviors, substance use, overeating, emotion suppression, overcontrol, and interpersonal mayhem, which are often behavioral solutions to intolerably painful emotions.

The Two Tents Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) utilizes Dialectal Behavioral Therapy - Skills (DBT-S), ACT (Acceptance Commitment Therapy) for Adolescents in the form of DNA-V and exposure therapy.  Our unique blending has become the BOLD Living Skills taught to help your young person and your family  find more effective ways to regulate their emotions and thereby, their behaviors. All three clinical models have decades of evidence in effectively treating anxiety, depression, and the complications of ADHD, shame and guilt. 

IOP Skills training is Monday through Thursday (4x per week) from 3:00-6:00 pm in a group setting usually over 5-6 weeks (~18-24 group sessions).  Family Skills training weekly 4:30-6 pm on Wednesdays.

In-person & virtual coming this spring:  

Trauma-informed care designed for the whole foster and adoptive family, useful to any family.  

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A tool for helping young people explore Sparks (activities and areas in which research has shown other young people felt most alive, joyful and inspired.)

Link to Search Institute a leader in positive youth development

Wonder involves important elements of surprise and curiosity, both of which are forms of interest. 

Ideas on how to Create Wonder at different ages and stages of development.