Lela Saffle, LCSW

**Not accepting new clients**

My favorite part of being a therapist is getting to know my clients and then getting to share with them the dance of science and magic of DBT skills training. In the last decade of facilitating DBT groups, I have been humbled to learn with and from my clients. I approach group therapy with non-judgment, compassion, and intention, utilizing techniques from Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. My goal is to provide a safe and trauma-informed group space where your teen will experience healing and growth. DBT is by no means a magic wand to fix everything, but it can be magical and I hope I get the chance to show you what I mean.

I’ve been in private practice in North Carolina since 2018. Before that, I worked in a handful of community mental health agencies in the Chicago area providing psychotherapy for adults with anxiety and depression. I also worked in residential treatment, facilitating DBT groups for female-identifying adults and teens with PTSD, substance use disorders, eating disorders, and mood disorders. I received my Master of Arts in Social Service Administration (equivalent to a Masters in Social Work) from the University of Chicago in 2013. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the state of North Carolina. My specialities include treating borderline personality disorder, anxiety disorders, and trauma, specifically religious and emotional trauma.

I look forward to getting to know your teen and supporting them on this courageous journey to building a life worth living!