Internationally Recognized Teen DBT Experts
In-Network with Anthem Blue Cross and most other BlueCross BlueShield insurances. (we are not in-network with Medicare/Medicaid)
Our Methods Reduce Life-Threatening Behaviors.
Backed By 25 Years of Experience & University Clinical Research.*
- Ages 13-17, all genders welcome. Only 6 residents in our California retreat setting.
- In-Network with Anthem Blue Cross. We bill your insurance directly. Not in-network with Medicare/Medicaid.
- Specializing in Depression, Anxiety, OCD, Bipolar Disorders & Emotional Dysregulation (no substance abuse).
- California’s 1st DBT-Linehan Board Certified Program™.
- 3 hours of individual & 3 hours of family therapy per week with licensed DBT Certified Clinicians
What is DBT?
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is the most comprehensive and effective protocol for treating individuals with mood dysregulation disorders that are often accompanied by life-threatening behaviors.
Why is DBT an Important Treatment?

Dr. Marsha Linehan
Founder of DBT
TIME magazine recognized Dr. Marsha Linehan, an American Psychologist, as one of the most important scientists of our time, in July of 2018, for developing DBT. It is the most effective treatment to date for pervasive emotion dysregulation and symptoms of chronic suicidality and self-harm. Her results were replicated in 42 randomized controlled studies around the world.
We Use DBT to Successfully Treat Teens With:
Borderline Personality Disorder
Suicidal Behaviors, Ideation, Self-Harm
Self-Loathing, Negative Ruminations
Emotional Dysregulation or Big Emotions Low Skills
Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, OCD
Executive Functioning Issues
Why Compass for Your Teen?
We do one thing exceptionally well: treat depressed and anxious children with gold standard, evidence-based treatments that create mastery, a sense of belonging, and of living with purpose. We help your child find their why, find their how and find their way.
Research-Proven Outcomes
As a Duke University Performance Site, we are concluding a 4-year study on the effective treatment of identity dysregulation in suicidal, self-harming teens. Our residential therapeutic programming was built around our study findings.
Recognized DBT Experts
Compass is a DBT Rotation & Training Site for UCI Medical School Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, and Columbia University School of Social Work. We are also California’s first DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified Program™.
Whole Child & Family Wellness
Unique to Compass’ program is its focus on nutritional psychiatry, personalized executive functioning coaching, daily fitness, mindfulness, self-compassion training, intensive family DBT skills training, and research-based family therapy.
Praise for Compass Behavioral Health
Praise from
Past Parent
“Thank you for devoting your life to this purpose. Thank you for the scores of lives and families you are saving. I am profoundly indebted to you, and the Compass family. If there is ever any way I can give back, please do let me know.”
Past Parent
Parent Feedback at Discharge
Praise from
Program Evaluator
“In my 15 years as a CARF program surveyor, having surveyed over 300 programs, I would place Compass in the top 3 of programs in terms of program quality.”
CARF Program Surveyor
Praise from
Health Insurer
“Compass is the top teen residential program in the country, if I had a child that needed residential treatment I would send them here.”
Health Insurer Case Mgr
For Family Needing Referral
Our Results Prove How Well We Help
Your Questions Answered
How can I pay for residential treatment for my teen at Compass Behavioral Health?
Due to Compass being one of the few DBT-Linehan Board of Certification™ Programs in the country, Compass has a high success rate of obtaining an in-network authorization or a single case agreement. What this means for you is that you will be paying the same deductible and share-of-cost as if you chose an in-network provider.
Why choose Compass Behavioral Health for my Teen?
Our program was designed around our research findings of what it takes to truly put self-harm and suicide behaviors in remission.
- We treat mood disorders only – and do not admit teens with substance abuse challenges into our program.
- We have strong contagion behavior management protocols.
- Robust therapy of 3 hours of individual weekly & 3 hours of family weekly.
- In-Depth family component with our Saturday Family Day Programming to improve retention of treatment gains post discharge.
- Licensed and experienced team of clinicians with impressive certifications and training that you can view on our staff page.
- Our floor staff are graduate clinical students in a 24 month DBT training externship.
- We have unsurpassed observation, staffing ratios, and safety protocols.
Who do you treat?
We help youth struggling with depression and anxiety as their primary problem, as opposed to other programs where substance abuse is the primary focus. Before accepting a client, our admissions team, lead by the Residential Clinical Director, completes a thorough review of their history, including all hospital, school, and psychiatric records and relevant documentation. This review allows us to verify that each resident is appropriate for our program and can benefit from our research developed curriculum. Our goal is to help your child find their why to get better, find their how to regulate their thoughts & emotions, and to find their way to building a life worth living.
What is your treatment approach?
Our goal is to help give kids the skills they need to develop mastery over regulating their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, while solidifying their identity. We focus on Whole Family Wellness, coaching parents to be an effective Emotion Regulation Coach for their child while strengthening the parent-child attachment bond.
Compass’ Weekly Clinical Program Includes:
Robust Individual Therapy
- 3 hours of individual therapy provided by expertly trained clinicians competent in providing:
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for big emotions with low emotion regulation skills
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for problematic thoughts, beliefs, and habits
- DBT-Prolonged Exposure for trauma
- Acceptance & Commitment Therapy for gaining distance and perspective on problematic emotions and thoughts
- Exposure-Response Prevention for OCD and anxiety-related conditions
- Family-Based Therapy for Anorexia
- 1 hour psychiatric evaluation and medication management with a board certified child and adolescent psychiatrist
- 1 hour of nutritional counseling with a registered dietitian.
Robust Family Treatment
- 3 hours of DBT Attachment Based Family Therapy.
- 2 hours of DBT Multi-Family Group
- 1.5 hours of Parent Effectiveness Training and consultation to the parent
- 1 hour of Attachment Based Multi-Family Group Therapy.
- 1 hour of family fitness
Evidenced-Based Groups
- 9 hours of DBT Skills Training.
- 5 hours of Executive Functioning Coaching and SMART goals training
- 3.5 hours of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- 3.5 hours of sleep hygiene and anti-anxiety skills practice.
- 2.5 hours of mindfulness training and practice
- 1 hour of Mindful Self-Compassion
- 1 hour of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- 1 hour of Art Therapy, Psychodrama Therapy, Music Therapy, or Recreational Therapy
Whole-Child Wellness
10 hours of school with an assessment and remediation focus.
- 7 hours of physical fitness including daily group fitness, yoga, and sports recreation
- 5 hours of Nutritional Therapy and Culinary Lab
- Adulting living skills are also woven throughout the program as residents are taught to cook, do their laundry, clean their rooms and bathrooms, and manage their personal hygiene daily.
Compass is Your Trusted Partner in Health
Your teen’s journey to their best life start today
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* RESEARCH: Compass has concluded a clinical study (2016-2022) in collaboration with Duke University, studying the effective treatment of identity dysregulation in suicidal and self-harming teens. Our residential programming was designed around this study’s findings. EXPERIENCE: Compass’ Executive Director has referred self-harming & suicidal teenagers to residential treatment programs throughout the country for 25 years. She went on to launch Compass’ Residential Program to address many of the deficits she has observed over the years.