Relational Therapy Collective
Couples, Family, & Individual Therapy in Dallas, TX
Welcome to Relational Therapy Collective, where we, Deborah and Sharla, cultivate the power of synergy as we unite our expertise and passion to provide you with a transformative therapeutic experience!
Welcome to Relational Therapy Collective
RELATIONAL THERAPY COLLECTIVE provides systemic therapy for couples, families, and individuals in Dallas, Texas, serving the greater DFW area. Rooted in family systems, our practice is built on the belief that relationships are at the heart of healing and growth. With a deep commitment to understanding the varied experiential hues that color your life and intricate connections that influence your worldview, our mission is to provide exceptional systemic therapeutic care that cultivates deep-rooted healing, meaningful growth, and lasting change. The transformation that emerges from our work together extends beyond the surface and shifts all dimensions of life—strengthening your relationship with yourself, those closest to you, and the broader systems in which you exist. Relational Therapy Collective was founded to make certain that you and your loved ones receive evidence-based, expert care from clinicians of the highest caliber with rigorous systemic training in couples therapy, marriage counseling, family therapy, and individual therapy.
At the heart of Relational Therapy Collective is the belief in the power of relationships. Our practice is a testament to the enduring bond created through shared passion, purpose, and an embrace of interconnectedness. Just as couples and families find synergy in their relationships, so do we in our partnership and our team, working collectively to ensure a truly transformative therapeutic experience. Founded by Dr. Deborah Holt, PhD, LMFT-S and Sharla Austin, MS, LMFT, affectionately known by clients as the “Dream Team”—RTC brings together clinical excellence, systemic insight, and collaborative leadership. Join us in experiencing the transformative power of systemic therapy, where the sum of our collective strengths creates a therapeutic experience that is greater than the sum of its parts. Without further ado, we warmly invite you into this space to bring your whole self, and all your humanity, as you are!
Our Philosophy and Core Values
EXCELLENCE
At Relational Therapy Collective, we are committed to excellence in systemic therapy, providing specialized, evidence-based care through expert clinicians trained in couples therapy, marriage counseling, family therapy, and individual therapy. From your first connection with our client relations coordinator to the seamless processes we uphold and the high-quality systemic therapeutic care you receive, we strive to make every part of your experience reflect our dedication to excellence. We remain at the forefront of research and professional development to ensure that every client benefits from the highest standards of systemic care. This commitment also guides how we grow as a team: upholding systemic best practices and cultivating a culture of professionalism, competence, accountability, integrity, and adaptability. At RTC, excellence is a value and living practice embodied in every aspect of our work and every relationship.
RELATIONSHIPS
At Relational Therapy Collective, we believe in the transformative power of relationships. Rooted in family systems, we recognize the profound influence relationships have on individual and family well-being, and how a single shift within a system creates change across the entire system. Research shows that true healing, growth, and transformation happen within secure relationships—where feeling seen and supported empowers us to move through discomfort, take risks, and endure life’s adversities with courage. Our commitment to relationships is also a commitment to collective stewardship. We take responsibility for nurturing connection, fostering resilience, and sustaining the health of relational systems. This stewardship enriches therapeutic outcomes, team cohesion, cultural competence, client retention, and professional growth. Through secure connection and authentic relationships, transformation unfolds systemically—restoring individuals, renewing families, and strengthening the very fabric of our communities and our world.
COMPASSION
At Relational Therapy Collective, compassion is the heartbeat of every connection and the thread that interconnects us. To us, compassion is a disciplined practice of attunement, curiosity, and honoring the lived experiences of others. By “learning to dance in multiple realities,” we cultivate a culture of belonging where every voice and story matters. In therapy, compassion kindles a sanctuary of safety where clients can risk vulnerability, let courage bloom, and move toward healing and growth. Within our team, compassion inspires generosity, humility, and mutual care—reminding us that true excellence emerges from connection, not competition. In a world too often defined by disconnection and division, compassion anchors us in our shared humanity and catalyzes the resilience required for transformation—within ourselves, our relationships, and the communities we serve.
Our Services
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Couples Therapy
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Family Therapy
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Individual Therapy
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Supervision
Our Clinical Team
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Dr. Deborah Holt—Partner & Executive Director
Deborah Holt PhD, LMFT-S
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Sharla Austin—Partner & Director of Clinical Care
Sharla Austin MS , LMFT
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Dr. Catalina Young—Clinician
Catalina Young PhD, LPC
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Tiana Shivers—Clinician
Tiana Shivers, MA, LPC
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Karla Rica Piccio—Clinician
Karla Rica Piccio, MS, LMFT Associate
Our Vision
At Relational Therapy Collective, our vision is rooted in our mission, core values, and systemic framework—affirming the transformative power of systemic therapy and relational care to foster deep-rooted healing, meaningful growth, and lasting change across individuals, couples, families, and communities.
We are inspired by the remarkable individuals who have shaped our lives through their humility, curiosity, and ability to recognize strengths in others. In their honor, we extend the same compassion, wisdom, and support to our clinicians, team members, clients, colleagues, families, and communities. United by a shared purpose, we carry forward their legacy by creating safe and attuned spaces where people feel truly seen, supported, and empowered to grow—both personally and relationally.
Our vision is to redefine relational care by uniting clinical excellence, systemic insight, and a culture of generosity, humility, and resilience. We believe that when one part of a system transforms, the entire system shifts—when a client heals, when a clinician feels valued, when a team thrives, those changes ripple outward into families, communities, and society.
Founded on the conviction that every person deserves expert systemic care, our clinicians practice with integrity, curiosity, and compassion, contributing to a broader movement of collective healing—one session, one connection at a time. We envision a world where every couple, family, and individual has access to the transformative power of systemic therapy—where deep-rooted healing, meaningful growth, and lasting change are not only possible but lived realities.
Walking alongside our clients inspires us to invest in our own growth, engage wholeheartedly with our team, and show up with culturally attuned compassion and care. We believe relational well-being is both a personal and collective responsibility—and that the quality of our connections, inside and beyond the therapy room, is where true beauty and meaningful change take root.
At Relational Therapy Collective, we know that we are all interconnected—and that our collective strength, rooted in our shared humanity, is greater than the sum of its parts. Together, we are forging a path toward systemic change and healing—one relationship at a time.
As SEEN in
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March 2023
RELATIONAL THERAPY COLLECTIVE EST
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6,732+
SESSIONS COMPLETED
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960+
CLIENTS SEEN
