California Therapy Finder

Therapists licensed in California, available online across the state

DBT Therapists Licensed in California

This page is for people in California looking for online therapists who list DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) among their approaches. Use it if you want clinicians who incorporate DBT skills or principles into treatment for issues like emotion regulation, self-harm, or interpersonal problems. Compare therapists by their stated DBT experience, additional modalities, areas of specialty, and how they describe working with clients. Remember that a California license covers the whole state, so being inside California is not a barrier to working with any therapist listed here.

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  1. 1. Keith Chilton, LMFT

    30 years in practice · English · Male

    Experienced California Marriage and Family Therapist

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Addictions · Relationship · Trauma and abuse · Depression

    Approaches Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) · Attachment-Based Therapy · Client-Centered Therapy

    Continue with Keith Online sessions

  2. 2. Eric Aldaco, LMFT

    16 years in practice · English, Spanish · Male

    Christian LMFT focused on strength-based care

    Works with Self esteem · Coping with life changes · Relationship · Family · Parenting

    Approaches Client-Centered Therapy

    Continue with Eric Online sessions

  3. 3. Karen Ann Marshalleck, LMFT

    6 years in practice · English · Female

    Experienced California LMFT for stress and relationships

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Family · Depression · Coping with life changes

    Approaches Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Solution-Focused Therapy

    Continue with Karen Online sessions

  4. 4. Shemeram 'Shari' Lachin, LCSW

    7 years in practice · English · Female

    Affirming LCSW focused on lasting change

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · LGBT · Trauma and abuse · Self esteem · Depression

    Continue with Shemeram Online sessions

  5. 5. Elena Balashova-Shamis, CA Psychologist

    23 years in practice · English, Russian · Female

    California psychologist with integrative expertise

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Trauma and abuse · Grief · Depression

    Continue with Elena Online sessions

  6. 6. Kendall Jones, LCSW

    25 years in practice · English · Male

    Compassionate therapist guiding personal growth

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · LGBT · Trauma and abuse · Grief · Depression

    Approaches Client-Centered Therapy · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

    Continue with Kendall Online sessions

  7. 7. Dr. Malcolm Stanislaus, LMFT

    40 years in practice · English · Male

    Experienced California LMFT for trauma and coaching

    Works with Trauma and abuse · Depression · Coaching

    Continue with Dr. Online sessions

  8. 8. Hyun Lee, LMFT

    11 years in practice · English · Female

    Works with Relationship · Family · Intimacy-related issues · Parenting · Self esteem

    Continue with Hyun Online sessions

  9. 9. Zeph Locke, LMFT

    12 years in practice · English · Female

    Resilience-focused care for mood disorders

    Works with Grief · Bipolar

    Continue with Zeph Online sessions

  10. 10. Linda Alcala, LMFT

    10 years in practice · English, Spanish · Female

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Trauma and abuse · Parenting · Depression

    Continue with Linda Online sessions

  11. 11. Cynthia Rumford-Jones, LCSW

    22 years in practice · English · Female

    Compassionate LCSW for life transitions

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Anger · Self esteem · Depression · Coping with life changes

    Approaches Client-Centered Therapy · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

    Continue with Cynthia Online sessions

  12. 12. Claudia Santiago, LCSW

    12 years in practice · English, Spanish · Female

    California LCSW supporting complex emotional challenges

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Trauma and abuse · Grief · Self esteem · Depression

    Approaches Client-Centered Therapy · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Gottman Method

    Continue with Claudia Online sessions

  13. 13. Blanca Nicassio, LMFT

    8 years in practice · English · Female

    California LMFT for stress anxiety and relationships

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Relationship · Anger · Self esteem · Depression

    Continue with Blanca Online sessions

  14. 14. Lorena Silva, LCSW

    3 years in practice · English, Spanish, Portuguese · Female

    Warm, collaborative LCSW for adults

    Works with Stress, Anxiety · Family · Trauma and abuse · Self esteem · Coping with life changes

    Continue with Lorena Online sessions

  15. 15. Gian Sarabia, LMFT

    6 years in practice · English, Spanish · Male

    California LMFT offering thoughtful, individualized therapy

    Works with Trauma and abuse · Intimacy-related issues · Bipolar · Depression · Stress, Anxiety

    Approaches Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) · Attachment-Based Therapy · Client-Centered Therapy

    Continue with Gian Online sessions

About dbt therapy in California

Everyone listed on this page holds a licence to practise in California and works online. That matters more than it sounds: a licence is issued by the state, not by a city, so a therapist is available to anyone in California regardless of how far away they are. Someone outside a major metro can work with a therapist whose books would otherwise be out of reach.

2,724 therapists match this page, all of whom name dbt among the areas they work with. Fifteen are shown above. The list changes between pages, so it is worth looking at more than one if none of these feels like a fit.

What to compare

  • Credential. LMFT, LCSW and LPCC are different training routes to the same licensed practice. None outranks the others; they shape emphasis rather than quality.
  • Years in practice. Shown for every therapist here. More experience is not automatically better, but it is a fair proxy for how much of a given problem someone has seen.
  • What else they work with. A therapist whose other focus areas overlap with your situation is usually a better starting point than one whose listed areas stop at the single thing you searched for.
  • Approach. CBT, psychodynamic, solution-focused and the rest describe how sessions tend to run. If you have tried therapy before and it did not suit you, changing approach is often more useful than changing therapist.
  • Language. Shown where a therapist offers sessions in more than English.

How online sessions work

Sessions run by video or by messaging, arranged through our partner platform rather than booked directly with the therapist. There is no travel and no waiting room, which for most people is the difference between starting and not starting. Pricing is set by the platform and shown before you commit.

Common questions

What does it mean when a therapist lists DBT among their approaches?

When a therapist lists DBT among their approaches it usually means they use some DBT principles or skills in treatment. That might include mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, or interpersonal effectiveness. It does not guarantee formal DBT training, a DBT program, or exposure therapy; you should ask each therapist about their specific DBT experience and how they apply it.

How should I choose between therapists who offer DBT and those who offer other therapies?

Decide based on the problems you want help with and the therapist’s description of their work. If you need skills for emotion regulation or crises, DBT-informed care can be helpful. Compare therapists’ specialties, additional approaches, session structure, and how they measure progress. Ask about training, typical goals, and whether they use DBT skills coaching or structured DBT formats.

Can I expect group DBT or phone coaching from therapists who list DBT online?

Not necessarily. Listing DBT does not mean a therapist runs formal DBT groups or offers phone coaching. Some therapists integrate DBT skills into individual sessions without providing full DBT program components. If you want group work or crisis coaching, ask the therapist directly about those services and how they implement DBT-related supports.

DBT therapists by city

Other focus areas