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Helping Teens Find Healthy Relationships

Mar 12, 2025

Adolescence is a key time for youth as they grow, explore, and develop new relationships, both friendships and romantic interests. While teens must socialize, it’s also essential for them to learn how to find healthy relationships and spot the signs of a bad relationship. This will help their social development and surround them with supportive people in their lives.

Signs of a Healthy Relationship

All parents and caregivers hope their adolescents find supportive friends and surround themselves with good, honest people. At MHS, during our DBT programs, we recommend teens use the following tips when forming friendships:

• Find peers who share similar values and interests as them.
• Look for friends who live near them.
• Show interest in others by asking them questions and listening to what they are saying.
• Strike a balance by practicing give and take in the relationship.
• Try to be a positive person so it’s enjoyable for peers to spend time with them. (This is obviously not possible all the time—at times, teens will be down and will need support from their friends. The goal is to try to be enjoyable to be around most of the time.)
• They should be balanced in what they share with others as they start a new friendship or relationship.
• Be patient. Give new friendships time to develop. As they evolve, they will get stronger, and teens will develop more friendships.
• Focus on earning others’ respect instead of trying to be liked.

By focusing on these tips, teens can build positive, healthy relationships.

Worried About the Relationship Your Teen Is In? Here’s How Caregivers Can Support Them

If a teen is in an unhealthy relationship, there are steps parents and caregivers can take to help them. According to PsychologyToday.com, parents should offer support and encouragement and monitor their teens.

To show support, parents can try to suggest how their teen should be treated in a relationship – being careful not to place blame or accuse their friends or partners.

Parents should focus on the positives of getting out of a bad relationship to offer encouragement. They can talk to their children about their future, share similar experiences, and help them feel strong and independent.

While doing this, parents should also monitor their teens. They should look for signs that a relationship is dangerous to their child and also watch to see if any mental health problems are developing as they work through the relationship.

The Role of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in Fostering Healthy Relationships

If teens are struggling with mental health problems, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) can help. This evidence-based treatment is designed to help individuals manage intense emotions and improve interpersonal effectiveness. For adolescents, DBT offers specific skills to navigate relationships:

• Mindfulness: Teaches teens to be present in the moment, enhancing self-awareness and empathy in interactions.
• Emotional Regulation: Provides tools to understand and manage emotions, reducing impulsivity and promoting thoughtful responses.
• Distress Tolerance: Equips teens with strategies to handle challenging situations without resorting to harmful behaviors.
• Interpersonal Effectiveness: Focuses on assertive communication, setting boundaries, and maintaining self-respect in relationships.

By using these skills, teens can build and maintain healthier relationships, which can lead to improved self-esteem and emotional resilience.

MHS’s Adolescent DBT Programs

At MHS, we recognize the unique challenges adolescents face in today’s world. Our tailored DBT programs for young people ages 12-18 are designed to address these challenges effectively. We offer specialized programs, including Early Adolescent DBT for ages 12-14 and Adolescent DBT for ages 14-18. Additionally, our Waypoint for Teens program supports those with co-occurring mental health and substance use concerns. These programs are available both in-person across various Twin Cities locations and virtually through our Virtu-Clinic, ensuring accessibility for all families.

For caregivers, MHS provides resources such as monthly webinars and newsletters that support teens with mental health challenges. Engaging in these educational opportunities can enhance understanding and provide practical tools to assist teens in their journey toward healthy relationships.

By fostering open communication, modeling positive behaviors, and utilizing therapeutic resources like DBT, we can help teens form and maintain healthy relationships that will benefit them throughout their lives.