DBT Group Therapy for Adults

Click HERE to email us if you are interested in joining these groups,

or

Click HERE to fill out an application for these groups

At GAFC, our DBT skills groups offer practical, evidence-based tools to help you manage emotions, navigate stress, and improve your relationships.

Whether you're working on managing anger or stress, increasing emotional awareness, building patience in tough situations, or simply looking to feel more in control of your responses, DBT skills can make a real difference.

Many people join DBT groups to strengthen their relationships—with partners, family, friends, and even themselves—and often do so alongside our individual therapists and/or marriage or family therapy programs for added support and insight.

GAFC’s DBT Groups are skills based only. This means that we teach and practice the core DBT skills, rather than providing full-model DBT (which includes individual therapy, coaching, and a consultation team).

GAFC does NOT have a designated on-call clinician for our DBT program.

INFORMATION ABOUT OUR DBT GROUPS:

Next Group Start Date: July 7th, 2025

• Our DBT groups are closed groups (meaning that no other participants can join once a cohort begins)

• We cap our groups at a maximum of six participants

• Group rosters are re-opened every six weeks

• All group sessions are 90 minutes in length

• We do not accept health insurance for group therapy

• All groups are priced at $45.00 per 90 minute group session. Participants MUST pay for a minimum of six sessions $270.00) prior to beginning group therapy; this fee is nonrefundable.

• Like all of our programs at GAFC, our DBT clients must fill out a pre-service screen prior to joining a group therapy cohort

• GAFC will only admit clients who fall within the scope of our practice to our DBT groups.

  • Essentially, this means that the clients must be generally mentally stable, be able to participate in group therapy in a constructive way, not be actively suicidal, homicidal or psychotic, not demonstrating severe behavioral problems, not engaging in severe self-harm, et cetera.

• Unlike other DBT programs, GAFC’s program is designed for clients whose issues would fall under the mild-moderate category of most diagnoses. If clients express a need for a more intensive program, we will be happy to provide referrals.

CURRENT GROUPS FOR ADULTS

• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy - Skills Group for Adults - In-Person in Marietta with Rich:

  • Sunday Evenings at 6PM

    Or

  • Thursday Evenings at 6PM

• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for Adults Skills Group for Adults - In-Person in Decatur with Rich

  • Friday Evenings at 6PM

• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Skills Groups for Adults - Virtual with Rich:

  • Tuesday Evenings at 6PM

• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Skills Group for Adults - In-Person in Marietta with Ria:

  • Monday Evenings at 6PM

• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Skills Group for Adults - Virtual with Ria:

  • Wednesday Evenings at 6PM

If you are interested in joining an Adult DBT Group, please feel free to click the link above to email us, and/or fill out the form below:

DBT Sign-Up Form

MEET OUR DBT GROUP THERAPISTS

Richard Lesaganich, LAPC

Rich Lesaganich is a GAFC therapist who serves as one of our DBT providers. Rich’s DBT groups are usually co-ed at this time. Rich’s attitude and therapeutic style include being both laid-back and direct, meaning that he is a relaxed, open-minded, nonjudgmental person by nature, who may also use gentle confrontation to assist clients in making progress.

Outside of DBT, Rich’s clinical interests include PTSD, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Spirituality.

Learn more about Rich by clicking on this link.

Ria Shah, MSW

Ria Shah is a GAFC therapist who serves as a DBT provider. Like Rich, Ria’s DBT groups are usually co-ed, however, Ria is currently accepting referrals for a women’s only DBT group and a young adult DBT group.

Ria also serves as one of our Seeking Safety group therapists.

Outside of DBT, Ria’s clinical interests include working with teens, young adults, families, and women’s therapy.

Learn more about Ria by clicking on this link.