Britt Rathbone

Britt Rathbone, LCSW-C, has worked with adolescents and their families in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area for more than 40 years. Recognized by Washingtonian as a top adolescent therapist, he is the founder and director of Capital Youth Services, where he leads a clinical practice specializing in evidence-based care for adolescents and young adults. He trains mental health professionals, teaches graduate students, and presents nationally on adolescent treatment and the application of DBT to young people.

Rathbone is the co-author of Dialectical Behavior Therapy for At-Risk Adolescents; What Works with Teens: A Professional’s Guide to Engaging Authentically with Adolescents to Achieve Lasting Change; and Parenting a Teen Who Has Intense Emotions.

6 Results

Why Gen-Alpha Slang Matters More Than You Think

Exploring What It Really Means in Therapy

Therapists working with adolescents and teens don't need to be fluent in Gen-Alpha slang: they need to be curious without being theatrical. Read more

"I've Got Nothing to Talk About"

How to Work with Tight-Lipped Clients

Longtime experts in the field offer tips on how to get the conversation going when your clients have nothing to say. Read more

Illustration © Ole Schwander

When Teens Talk About Suicide

A DBT Approach for Critical Moments

The rise in teen suicidality is frightening, but hospitalization isn’t the only—or even the best—option for treatment. Read more

A therapist and client sit across from each other in the therapy room

How I Start My First Session

Icebreakers, Alliance-Building, and More

Three expert therapists give tips on breaking through a client’s tough exterior, convey concern and build rapport in a first session. Read more

VIDEO: Helping Teen Clients Make Good Decisions

VIDEO: Helping Teen Clients Make Good Decisions

...And What to Do When They Talk About Risky Behavior

Are teen clients entitled to confidentiality? How should therapists discuss confidentiality with their teen clients? What’s the therapist’s role... Read more

A group of teens drinking and smoking at a party

Truths and Consequences

Helping Teens Make Good Decisions

When it comes to high-risk behaviors, therapists can find themselves caught between boundary-testing teens and their concerned parents. Read more