DBT Skills Group in Fresno, California

Master Emotional Regulation and Build Stronger Relationships Through Proven DBT Techniques

Feeling overwhelmed by intense emotions or struggling to maintain healthy relationships isn't a personal failing; it's a signal that you could benefit from proven skills that many people never learned growing up.

In Fresno's fast-paced environment, where work stress, family pressures, and life transitions can feel overwhelming, many adults find themselves reacting in ways that damage their most important relationships.

Our DBT Skills Group provides a structured, supportive environment where you'll learn the same evidence-based techniques used by therapists worldwide to help people regulate emotions, communicate effectively, and build lasting relationships. Unlike individual therapy, our group setting allows you to practice these skills with others who understand your challenges, creating a community of support right here in Fresno.

Through our attachment-based, trauma-informed approach, you'll develop practical tools for managing distressing emotions, improving communication with loved ones, and creating the stable, fulfilling relationships you deserve. These aren't abstract concepts; they're concrete skills you can start using immediately in your daily life.

Laura Slagle, CEO and founder, brings extensive experience in attachment-based and trauma-informed therapy

Established practice serving Fresno families since 2014 with specialized adoption and foster care expertise

Multiple locations throughout Fresno and Clovis for convenient access to specialized care

Collaborative approach with local adoption agencies and foster care organizations

Established practice serving Fresno families since 2014 with specialized adoption and foster care expertise

Our Services

Our DBT Skills Group brings together adults from across Fresno who are ready to transform how they handle emotions and relationships.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills training focuses on four core modules: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Each session combines psychoeducation with hands-on practice, ensuring you not only understand these concepts but can apply them confidently.

The group meets weekly for structured sessions where you'll learn specific techniques like the STOP skill for crisis moments, interpersonal effectiveness strategies for difficult conversations, and mindfulness practices that help you stay grounded during emotional storms. Our experienced facilitators create a safe, non-judgmental environment where group members support each other's growth while maintaining appropriate boundaries and confidentiality.

What makes our approach unique is the integration of attachment-based principles with traditional DBT skills. This means we don't just teach you what to do, we help you understand how your early relationships shaped your current patterns, making it easier to implement lasting change. The group format allows you to see how others apply these skills, providing real-world examples and reducing the isolation that often accompanies emotional struggles.

Between sessions, you'll complete practice assignments that help you integrate these skills into your daily routine. Whether you're navigating workplace conflicts, family dynamics, or romantic relationships, you'll develop a toolkit of strategies that become second nature with consistent practice.

Learn Life-Changing DBT Skills, Join Interest List

How You Benefit

Our Service Categories

Our Process

Step 1: Join Our Interest List 

Complete our brief interest form to learn about upcoming DBT Skills Groups and receive information about group format, scheduling, and preparation. We'll contact you within 48 hours to discuss your goals, answer questions about the group process, and determine if DBT skills training is the right fit for your current needs. This initial conversation helps ensure you feel confident and prepared before committing to the group experience.

Step 2: Attend Group Orientation 

Before joining the active skills group, you'll attend an orientation session where you'll meet other participants, learn group guidelines, and receive your DBT skills workbook. This session covers confidentiality, group expectations, and homework requirements while helping you feel comfortable with the group format. You'll also complete brief assessments that help facilitators understand your specific goals and challenges.

Step 3: Participate in Weekly Skills Training 

Our DBT skills groups meet weekly for structured sessions covering the four core modules over approximately 16-20 weeks. Each session includes brief check-ins, new skill instruction, practice exercises, and homework review. You'll receive handouts and worksheets to reinforce learning between sessions, and facilitators will provide individualized feedback to ensure you're mastering each skill before moving forward.

Step 4: Practice and Integration 

Throughout the group, you'll complete practice assignments that help you apply these skills in your daily life. Facilitators help you troubleshoot challenges and adapt techniques to your specific circumstances. By the end of the group, these skills become natural responses rather than conscious techniques, creating lasting changes in how you handle emotions and relationships.

Step 5: Continued Growth Planning 

As the group concludes, we'll help you develop a plan for maintaining and continuing to strengthen these skills. This might include joining our ongoing support group, continuing with individual therapy, or connecting with community resources that support your continued growth and well-being.

Our Approach

At Olive Leaf Therapy, we believe that healing happens through healthy connections, with yourself, your emotions, and your relationships.

Our DBT Skills Group reflects this philosophy by creating a safe, supportive environment where you can learn life-changing skills alongside others who understand your journey. We integrate attachment-based principles with evidence-based DBT techniques, recognizing that your early relationships shaped your current patterns and that healing happens within the context of secure, supportive connections.

Our trauma-informed approach means we understand that many emotional and relationship struggles stem from past experiences that taught you to survive rather than thrive. We never pathologize your current coping strategies, instead, we help you build new skills that serve you better in creating the relationships and emotional stability you deserve. Our group facilitators are trained in both DBT techniques and attachment-based interventions, ensuring you receive comprehensive support that addresses both symptoms and underlying patterns.

We specifically adapt our approach to serve Fresno's diverse community, recognizing the unique cultural, economic, and social factors that influence mental health in the Central Valley. Whether you're dealing with intergenerational family dynamics, economic stressors, or the isolation that can come with life transitions, our group provides culturally sensitive support that honors your background while teaching universal skills for emotional regulation and relationship satisfaction.

Our collaborative approach means you're not a passive recipient of treatment, you're an active participant in your healing journey. We believe you are the expert on your own life, and our role is to provide tools, support, and a safe space for you to practice new ways of being in relationship with yourself and others.

FAQs

Olive Leaf Therapy has been serving Fresno families since 2014, providing attachment-based, trauma-informed therapy services throughout the Central Valley. Founded by Laura Slagle, our practice specializes in helping individuals, couples, and families restore peace through healthy connections.