Care without the wait

91 licensed therapists & providers in Florida—6 in Gainesville. Available as soon as today, in person and online

Therapy for every life stage

Our providers work with individuals, couples, families, & teens for anxiety, depression, grief, & more

#1 for in-network coverage †

We accept UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, BCBS Plans, Humana, Aetna, & many more. Self-pay options available, no membership fees

Patients who get better

94% of patients feel truly understood by their provider. 3 out of 4 see improvement in depression & anxiety symptoms within 3 months

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2,865 people sought dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) help in Florida in the last year

Discover how starting dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) therapy can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.

Start DBT with a licensed therapist as soon as this week

Gainesville, FL

As a married mother of 3, I understand the challenges of life and family, as well as the anxiety and depression that can be caused...

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Gainesville, FL

My role is to provide a safe, non-judgmental, supportive environment that will allow you to grow in awareness of yourself and modi...

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We don’t have any providers with availability. Our schedules change daily. We’ll reach out as soon as a spot opens up.
Victoria Baca Villagomez

Hear from Victoria Baca Villagomez, Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)

View Victoria Baca Villagomez's profile

What is your go-to approach for dialectical behavior therapy?

The pillars of DBT are mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. This is a skills-based treatment model and there is a lot of psychoeducation involved. People that benefit the most from this approach are individuals struggling to control very intense emotions. Difficulty in emotional regulation can lead to suicidal ideation, self-harm, substance use, binge eating, and difficulty managing interpersonal relationships.

What tools do you teach in dialectical behavior therapy?

Each treatment stage comes with several tools. Some of the tools that I use the most are:

  • Crisis coping skills to deescalate intense emotions: dive response, self-soothing with 5 senses, STOP skill, paired muscle relaxation
  • Emotional regulation: check the facts with opposite action
  • Distress tolerance: radical acceptance
  • Interpersonal effectiveness: communication skills, learning to set boundaries, ending destructive relationships

How do you know when a client is making meaningful progress in dialectical behavior therapy?

Improvement in emotional regulation can be observed by a decrease or an absence of suicidal thoughts/self-harm/impulsive or risky behaviors, improved interpersonal relationships, more flexibility with changes in life, and overall processing emotions in healthier ways.

What can clients do in their personal time to supplement dialectical behavior therapy?

It depends — every client is different. One person could supplement DBT with meditation and breathing practices; other people could benefit from other modalities of therapy (group, family, couples) or self-help groups.

What should someone do to prepare for starting dialectical behavior therapy?

Clients need to be ready to practice DBT tools outside of the therapy session; homework is a very important part of treatment.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) FAQs

What is dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)?

At Thriveworks, Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) primarily concentrates on assisting individuals in emotion regulation, enhancing interpersonal relationships, and acquiring effective coping strategies for managing stress and emotional difficulties.

How does DBT work?

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) targets your personal challenges. You may work with your DBT therapist to maintain diary cards to monitor progress, emphasizing validation and support in the therapeutic relationship. DBT follows a stage-based approach, prioritizing crisis reduction initially and life satisfaction.

What is DBT best used for?

DBT was initially developed to address the needs of individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD). However, its versatile approach has enabled its application to a wide range of mental health conditions, including but not limited to, anxiety, depression, stress, and anger issues.

What are the 4 pillars of DBT?

The 4 pillars of DBT are mindfulness, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance.

Is DBT better than EMDR?

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) have distinct purposes and aren’t inherently superior or inferior to one another. DBT is most effective for managing emotional regulation, personality disorders, and interpersonal challenges, while EMDR is specifically tailored for individuals with trauma-related conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Is DBT conducted in person or online?

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) with therapists at Thriveworks in Gainesville, FL is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.

How many months is DBT?

The duration of a standard DBT program is typically around 24 weeks, which is roughly six months. The actual number of sessions will vary depending on the issues you wish to address.

Pricing & insurance

Our therapists accept most major insurance and we offer self-pay options too.
Learn more about pricing for therapy and counseling at Thriveworks.

Our therapists and counselors in Gainesville accept 33 insurance plans

  • Adventist Health Associates | Employee Health Plan

  • Adventist Health Associates | Non-Employee Health Plan

  • Aetna

  • Aetna Medicare Advantage

  • AvMed

  • AvMed | Medicare Advantage

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield | Anthem (Blue Card)

  • Carelon

  • Cigna | Evernorth

  • Compsych

  • Devoted Health | Medicare Advantage

  • Firefly Health Plan | Cigna PPO Network

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Self-pay costs at Gainesville
Talk therapy

Talk therapy

Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Talk therapy

Psychiatry

Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Hear from our clients

4.9 Learn about verified reviews
★★★★★
She is my friend. Someone who knows how to reach me and pull things out. She tells me ok to feel what I am feeling and help me get back on track. She is my guidance.
Emma Aug 2026Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
The understanding and listening. I really never had anyone to actually listen to me.
Vivian Aug 2026Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
She also attentive to the needs of each session, a great listener. And shares suggestions tools and resources [ homework] to get us on the right track
Amelia Aug 2026Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
No, everything is perfect
Sadie Aug 2026Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
100% extremely likely
Sofya Aug 2026Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★☆
Everything worked out great for a first session. She was on time and did not rush things. Have scheduled future sessions
Chantel Aug 2026Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
I have learned SO MUCH from my therapist, Vanessa Cumber! She has helped me hugely in navigating my anxiety. Vanessa is very dedicated to her profession and to her clients. She has such incredible empathy, and is also very smart, sending me articles about my issues and sharing the current research with me. Our sessions are so enjoyable and effective! Vanessa Cumber is quite a caring person, and such a talent!
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Charles Jul 2026Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★☆
I appreciated how quickly I was able to schedule an appointment with a mental health professional, and I’m grateful for all therapists!
Skylar Jul 2026Thriveworks.com verified review
8 of 42 reviews

Where to find us

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Address

4210 NW 37th Pl Suite 700
Gainesville, FL 32606

Getting here

Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Gainesville is located near NW 37th Pl and NW 43rd St, off NW 39th Ave. It is near the Cofrin Nature Park and a short distance from the Buchholz High School.

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Phone number

(352) 469-4507
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Languages spoken by FL providers

  • Telugu
  • English
  • Spanish
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Hours

Friday 8:00am - 9:30pm
Saturday 8:00am - 9:30pm
Sunday 8:00am - 9:30pm
Monday 8:00am - 9:30pm
Tuesday 8:00am - 9:30pm
Wednesday 8:00am - 9:30pm
Thursday 8:00am - 9:30pm

Shown in ET

Friday 8:00am - 11:00pm
Saturday 8:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 6:00pm
Monday 8:00am - 11:00pm
Tuesday 8:00am - 11:00pm
Wednesday 8:00am - 11:00pm
Thursday 8:00am - 11:00pm

Shown in ET

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