Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in El Dorado Hills, San Anselmo, SF + Online
What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) combines evidence-based practices with mindfulness to help you manage intense emotions and create lasting change in your life. Originally developed for treating borderline personality disorder, DBT has evolved to help people struggling with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other mental health challenges.
At its heart, DBT recognizes a powerful truth:
you can learn to accept yourself exactly as you are while working toward positive change.
The word "dialectical" speaks to this balance – learning to make peace with life's complexities while developing practical skills to transform your relationship with emotions, thoughts, and relationships.
Through DBT, you'll learn effective strategies for managing emotional intensity, improving relationships, and building a life worth living. Our therapists integrate DBT skills with holistic healing practices to help you not just survive, but truly thrive. Book a free consultation call to learn more about working with one of our licensed therapists.
“You can't think yourself into new ways of acting; You only can act yourself into new ways of thinking.”
— Marsha M. Linehan
Unlike long-term depth therapy, DBT is a structured, skills-based approach designed to help you create positive changes in your life quickly. When you work with one of our therapists, you'll learn practical DBT skills that you can start using right away, including:
Mindfulness - Learn to stay present with your experience, riding life's waves with more ease and awareness
Distress Tolerance - Develop the capacity to sit with uncomfortable emotions without falling into self-sabotaging patterns
Emotional Regulation - Understand and manage intense emotions with greater confidence and self-compassion
Interpersonal Effectiveness - Build stronger relationships through clear communication, healthy boundaries, and authentic self-expression
Your therapist will weave these skills into your sessions, offering guidance and support as you practice them in your daily life. Through consistent practice, these tools become natural responses that help you create lasting positive change.
How Does Dialectical Behavior Therapy Work?
Here at The Holistic Counseling Center, we integrate Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) into your holistic counseling sessions, along with mindfulness, somatic modalities, polyvagal informed practices and the latest evidence-based treatment protocols to support you on your healing journey.
Our holistic approach addresses both your symptoms and the underlying causes of emotional distress, promoting long-lasting wellness and personal growth. Traditional DBT treatment includes structured group sessions with individual counseling. Please note we do not currently offer DBT skills groups but can provide you with a referral for a group as needed and when we feel it would be helpful for your healing journey. Your therapist will offer a customized treatment plan to help address your unique challenges and symptoms.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy at The Holistic Counseling Center
What Issues Can Dialectical Behavior Therapy Treat?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy is effective in treating a wide range of mental health issues and conditions, including:
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Bipolar disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Relationship Stress
Self-Harm and Suicidality
Self-Sabotage
Stress Management
Meet The Team
DBT Therapists
Kim Burris
Founder, LIcensed THerapist, LMFT
Anxiety, Motherhood, Postpartum Depression, Shadow Work, Existential Crisis + Spirituality
Dr. Anjali Connors
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, Depth Work, Life Transitions, Psychedelic Integration + Spirituality
Perri Griffin
Licensed Therapist, LMFT
Self-Esteem, Anxiety, Shadow Work, Psychedelic Integration, Life Purpose + Spirituality
Associate Therapist, AMFT
Sinclair Mitchell
Anxiety, Trauma, Self-Esteem, Inner Child Healing, Shadow Work + Spirituality
Tessa Wendell
Associate THerapist, AMFT
Anxiety, Trauma, Depression, Relationships, Motherhood + Self-Esteem
Our Offices
We offer in-person DBT therapy from our offices in El Dorado Hills, CA (near Folsom and Sacramento), San Francisco and online counseling in California.
What People are Saying
★★★★★
“Perri brings fierce compassion, calm and intuitive wisdom into each session. Her genuine presence and capacity for going deeply into the shadow realms with her clients is truly a gift.”
- Kim, El Dorado Hills, CA
Ready to Work Together?
Here’s how to get started:
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Both CBT and DBT are common types of traditional talk therapy aimed at helping you change unhelpful ways of being in the world, into more helpful ways of thinking, feelings and relating to your self and others. CBT has been around for over 60 years and is an evidence-based and research rich modality, proven to be effective in treating many mental health challenges. DBT builds upon the CBT framework and has a similar approach to healing and change as CBT with an added component of mindfulness, and is often a more emotional and compassionate approach to healing. DBT is typically used to support you with high emotionality and learning how to manage extreme emotional reactivity and self-harming behaviors.
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Our therapists incorporate the four DBT skills of: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. These skills are helpful for you to learn how to manage intense emotions, cope with difficulties in life and enjoy healthier and more fulfilling relationships.
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In DBT, mindfulness becomes your ally, offering a powerful tool for learning how to care for and regulate your emotions. Through mindfulness practices like meditation and breathing exercises, you’ll learn how to observe your thoughts and feelings with compassion and curiosity. This helps cultivate a deeper awareness of your inner world, help you experience more self-love, and help you enjoy life more than just suffering through it.
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While DBT offers amazing benefits for many individuals, no modality is a one size fits all healing modality. Here at The Holistic Counseling Center we offer a comprehensive and personalized assessment and treatment plan process that will help support you on your unique path. If you find yourself struggling with intense emotions, self-harming thoughts and/or behaviors, or high amounts of conflict in your relationships, DBT can be a helpful and supportive therapeutic approach. To discuss if DBT is the right type of therapy for you, you can schedule a free consultation call HERE to learn more about this modality and how we can support you.
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If you’re ready to explore Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, make sure to work with a licensed therapist or counselor with training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. All of our therapists here at The Holistic Counseling Center are licensed to practice psychotherapy and are trained in DBT.
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If you’re ready to get started with DBT, reach out to schedule a free consultation call. We’ll discuss what’s going on in your life, look at logistics like fees and schedules, and if it feels like a good fit, you can schedule your first appointment!
FAQ’s about DBT
Make an Appointment for Dialectical Behavior Therapy Near You
Feeling ready to explore Dialectical Behavior Therapy? Let’s chat! Click below to schedule your complimentary consultation call and our intake coordinator will reach out to discuss logistics and schedule your first appointment.
If you have any other questions feel free to send a message through this contact form and we’ll get back to you in the next 48 hours.