for women in Nashville, tnwomen’s DBT skills group
Co-led by Delilah owner and clinical director, Andrea Santa Maria, and Delilah clinical intern, Maddie Maradik, our Women’s DBT Skills Group is a space for women to build practical skills to navigate emotions, strengthen relationships, and create a life that feels more balanced.
Research consistently shows that practicing DBT skills alongside others can strengthen learning, improve accountability, and provide opportunities to apply new strategies in real-life situations. Group members often discover they're not alone in the challenges they're facing, creating a sense of connection while learning practical tools together.
why learn DBT skills in a group format?
during this 8-week group, you'll learn how to...
feel less emotionally overwhelmed
stop reacting impulsively during stressful moments
trauma-related symptoms or emotional overwhelm
set healthier boundaries
break patterns of people-pleasing
navigate conflict with confidence
increase self-compassion
break patterns of people-pleasing
meet your group leaders
Dr. Andrea Santa Maria Delilah Owner & Clinical Director
Founder and Clinical Director of Delilah Counseling, Andrea specializes in working with women experiencing anxiety, relationship concerns, OCD, and life transitions. She is passionate about making therapy practical, collaborative, and genuinely helpful.
Maddie works with women navigating anxiety, self-esteem, emotional regulation, and relationship concerns. Her approachable, compassionate style helps clients feel comfortable while building meaningful skills for lasting growth.
Maddie Maradik Counseling Intern
let’s talk details
location & meeting time
all of our Women’s DBT Skills Group meetings will take place at Delilah Counseling — 619 Woodland St Nashville TN 37206
cost & payment plans
we are offering two payment options for our Women’s DBT group:
prepay option: $60/session | $480 for 8 sessions
pay per session: $65/session | $500 for 8 sessions
meeting days & times
our Women’s DBT Skills Group will begin on September 2nd 2026 and end on October 21st 2026
meetings will take place on Wednesdays from 5 - 6:00pm
what we’ll cover
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Learn the foundations of DBT and how mindfulness helps you become more aware of your thoughts, emotions, and reactions without judgment. This week focuses on slowing down, staying present, and building the awareness needed for lasting change.
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Gain a better understanding of why emotions happen, what they're trying to communicate, and how they influence your thoughts and behaviors. We'll explore common emotional patterns and begin identifying the cycles that keep you feeling stuck.
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Learn practical skills to better manage intense emotions without shutting down or feeling overwhelmed. You'll build healthy habits that help you respond with intention instead of reacting on autopilot.
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Discover strategies for navigating difficult moments without making them worse. You'll learn practical tools for managing stress, emotional pain, and life's inevitable challenges while staying grounded.
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Strengthen your communication skills, learn how to set healthy boundaries, and build more balanced relationships. This week focuses on expressing your needs with confidence while maintaining respect for yourself and others.
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Explore relationship patterns that may no longer be serving you and learn how to create healthier, more fulfilling connections. We'll discuss boundaries, self-respect, conflict, and recognizing what healthy relationships look like.
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Bring everything together by practicing how to use DBT skills in real-life situations, from work stress and friendships to dating, family dynamics, and everyday challenges. The goal is to make these skills feel natural and sustainable.
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Reflect on your progress, strengthen the skills you've learned, and create a plan for continuing your growth after the group ends. You'll leave with greater confidence and practical strategies to support your emotional well-being long after the eight weeks are over.
what is DBT?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is one of the most extensively researched psychological treatments for improving emotion regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness. Originally developed by psychologist Marsha Linehan, DBT skills are now widely used to help people navigate stress, anxiety, relationship challenges, and intense emotions. Research supports DBT skills training for improving emotional regulation and reducing a range of mental health symptoms.
Instead of focusing only on insight, DBT helps you build practical habits that create lasting change.
you have questions, we have answers
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If you've ever thought "why do I keep reacting the same way," "why does every relationship feel like this," or "I'm so tired of feeling like this," — yes. This group is built for women who are done white-knuckling it alone and ready for real tools, real community, and real change. You don't need a diagnosis to belong here. You just need to be ready.
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Because change sticks when you're not doing it alone. Hearing another woman say the exact thing you've never said out loud, and realizing you're not the only one. It's community and clinical skill-building in one room. Individual therapy alone can't replicate that.
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In 8 weeks, you'll build a full toolkit: how to stay grounded under stress, regulate emotions before they regulate you, set boundaries without guilt, and communicate in relationships without losing yourself. Every member leaves with a personalized skills plan they keep using long after the group ends. This isn't information — it's transformation you can feel by week three.
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Our next group begins on September 2nd. Cycles fill quickly and we intentionally keep the group small so every woman gets real attention and space to be seen. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can get you scheduled for your screening call and locked into the next available cycle — don't wait until you "have more time," because that day rarely comes on its own.
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You don't need any prior therapy experience, vocabulary, or self-help background to benefit. The group is built to meet you exactly where you are, whether that's your very first step into support or your fifth different approach to finally finding one that sticks.
Content
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Each session follows a rhythm that becomes familiar fast: a brief check-in, a mindfulness practice to ground the room, teaching on that week's skill, and time to practice it together — through discussion, role-play, or working through real examples members bring in. You'll leave every week with something concrete, not just a feeling.
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Just yourself and a notebook if you like to take notes — most of what you need is provided. Some weeks include a printed worksheet or skill card to take home, and we'll always let you know ahead of time if there's anything specific to bring.
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Only as much as you want to. Early sessions are lower-pressure — mostly learning and light discussion — and sharing naturally deepens as trust builds within the group. No one will ever put you on the spot or push you to share more than feels right.
