DBT Center of the South Bay : Torrance California

Welcome to the DBT Center of the South Bay!

Kari Barker, LMFT, founded the DBT Center of the South Bay in Torrance, California, serving the South Bay for over 15 years. As the pandemic hit, we sadly went to strictly online services only, for everyone’s safety. Although online therapy was effective for many, we wanted to get back to the office for in person therapy as soon as possible as the connection with someone in person has so much meaning and we returned to the office with safety precautions.

While we still offer online therapy throughout the State of California and now Nevada as we know many people continue to enjoy and thrive with therapy online. We offer in person sessions as well connecting with people and have a physical office in both Torrance, CA, and the Summerlin area of Las Vegas NV.

How to get to our office in Torrance, California

Our Torrance office is located at 23717 Hawthorne Blvd. right next to El Pollo Inka Restaurant. We are on west side of Hawthorne Blvd., in between Lomita Blvd and Pacific Coast Hwy. Parking is in the back of the building, and you come into the building from the back parking lot. We are upstairs on the second floor straight ahead to the right corner of the building, the suite with a lamp on in the window right next to the stairs. Please come on in and have a seat, your therapist will come out to greet you at your assigned time. We look forward to seeing you.

Please note that we are 5 minutes away from Torrance Memorial Medical Center, Skypark medical and professional offices and South High School. There are many restaurants around, and Del Amo Mall is 7 minutes away. We are at the base of the hill, close to Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Palos Verdes Estates, and Palos Verdes Peninsula. We are 20 minutes from San Pedro and the Docs. We are 5-10 minutes away from South Redondo, and 20 minutes away from North Redondo. Hermosa Beach is 15-20 minutes away, and Manhattan Beach is about 20-25 minutes away. Los Angeles International airport is only about 30 minutes away. We are about 40 minutes from Downtown L.A. to the north of us, and 30 minutes from Long Beach to the south of us. Orange County is about 45 minutes to an hour from us. The nearest freeways to our office are the 405 Fwy and the 110 Fwy. If you are going south on the 405 to our office, you would get off at Hawthorne Blvd and go down Hawthorne Blvd for about 5 miles. If you are going north on the 405 Fwy it is best to get onto to the 110 Fwy South and get off at Sepulveda to Hawthorne Blvd., then go left on Hawthorne Blvd, and our building will be on the right side about 1 mile down.

Therapy Outside of the Office While Walking

We have found that many people have an easier time opening up when out in nature, walking and experience the power of healing. Lago Seco Park is within walking distance from the office and therapy while walking can be an option. Also, the Skypark medical and professional complex is walking distance with wonderful waterfalls, pond, and walkways that provide a different environment than the busy city. Walking and talking in this environment can be soothing and healing. These walks can be offered after a few sessions with your therapist, and not for every session, however they can be wonderful adjuncts to your online or in office therapy.

Can’t Make it to our Torrance, CA Office?

Although we enjoy seeing clients in the office, we understand that some people may not be close enough to the office for in the office therapy. We also understand that many people prefer online therapy for multiple reasons. For this reason, the center has invested time and energy into learning how to provide the best possible online counseling services. We use a secure video platform and make every effort to give you as comfortable of an experience as possible when doing online therapy.

If you are going to meet with a therapist online, we encourage you to think about creating a comfortable space for yourself. It is also important that your comfortable space be private ensuring that you are feel safe and are free to talk openly in your therapy session. Things to consider when creating your comfortable and private place for online therapy may include time of day when others are not coming into the room you are in, or in the room next to where you are. Time of day for yourself, where you can be on screen without eye fatigue. Also, what your environment is, sitting at your desk and looking at a huge pile of work that needs to be done, may not help you feel relaxed as choosing a comfortable place in your living room. Although your bed may be comfortable, it could also be too comfortable, where at times doing the work for healing is hindered. So, planning for a balance of comfortableness, privacy, and the ability to do the work can so you can succeed in living your life the way you want to live it.

We can meet for therapy online with you, as long as you are located anywhere in the state of California or Nevada.