Relationship Skills 101 for Teens

April 1, 2015

Gr 8 Up-Requiring hard work, patience, and compromise, relationships can pose difficulties for most teens. But for those who have trouble relating to others, the challenges can be even greater. Relying upon the principles of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Van Dijk helps readers improve relationships with parents, peers, teachers, and others. Developed by psychologist Marsha Linehan in the late 1980s as a form of therapy for those with borderline personality disorder, DBT is intended to teach coping skills and to decrease damaging or ineffective behaviors. Van Dijk walks readers through four essential DBT techniques (core mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance), reminding teens that simply reading the text isn't enough: they must practice these skills in daily life. Readers are also introduced to four fictional adolescents whose own struggles with relationships are played out and then improved using DBT. This interactive text will resonate with its target audience, but it will most likely require helpful adults to put it in the hands of those who most need it. Teens should consider this title more of a workbook than a strictly informational text; they'll need to apply what they learn to real-life scenarios. Readers are encouraged to write in the book, potentially making it less than suitable for libraries. VERDICT A useful reference tool, particularly for counselors and teachers.-Elaine Baran Black, Georgia Public Library Service, Atlanta

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