New to Grow
With more than twenty years of experience as a licensed therapist in California, I specialize in helping individuals navigate the emotional, relational, and spiritual challenges that arise throughout different seasons of life. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of supporting clients as they work through depression, anxiety, relationship stress, and significant life transitions, offering guidance that is both grounded and compassionate. I bring particular expertise in women’s emotional health, including concerns related to identity, body image, self‑worth, and the complex dynamics that often emerge within families. My work is rooted in a deep respect for each person’s lived experience, and I strive to create a therapeutic space where clients feel understood, supported, and empowered to move toward meaningful change.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
Your first therapy session is really about getting comfortable and feeling supported. We take things at a gentle pace, starting with a simple conversation about what brought you in and what you’re hoping for. There’s no pressure to share everything at once — you get to decide what feels right. I’ll explain how therapy works, answer any questions, and make sure you understand that this is a collaborative space where you’re in control of your story. Together, we’ll explore what you need to feel safe, heard, and understood. By the end of the session, most people feel a sense of relief knowing they don’t have to navigate things alone and that therapy is a place where they can show up exactly as they are.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
Grounded in decades of clinical practice, I am committed to helping clients strengthen communication skills, build emotional resilience, and move toward meaningful personal growth. My goal is to walk alongside you with empathy, clarity, and genuine support as you navigate your healing journey.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I offer a compassionate, individualized approach that honors each person’s unique story. My practice provides a safe space for exploring a variety of issues, including, but not limited to, challenging relationships and experiences, life transitions, fertility challenges, and family‑of‑origin patterns. When desired, I integrate a Christian‑informed perspective, while also drawing from extensive experience working respectfully with agnostic clients and those from diverse faith backgrounds.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT sessions typically focus on helping clients notice unhelpful thoughts, evaluate them, and practice new ways of thinking and behaving. We might start by identifying a specific situation that triggered distress, then guide the client to explore the automatic thoughts that came up. Together, we can examine the evidence for and against those thoughts, develop more balanced alternatives, and plan small behavioral experiments to test them in real life. Over time, this helps clients build skills to manage emotions and respond more flexibly to challenges.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
Debra may use ACT techniques in sessions to help clients notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting entangled in them, using mindfulness and cognitive defusion techniques. Together, we may explore the client’s core values and identify actions that move toward a more meaningful life. Instead of trying to eliminate discomfort, these techniques may focus on building psychological flexibility—making room for inner experiences while choosing behaviors aligned with what truly matters.
Christian Counseling
In a Christian counseling session upon client's preference, Debra may integrate psychological tools with the client’s faith framework, using Scripture, prayer, or spiritual reflection when it aligns with the client’s beliefs. Sessions often explore how faith can offer strength, meaning, and guidance in navigating life’s challenges. Debra can supports clients in applying Christian values to their decisions and relationships while also using evidence‑based therapeutic strategies to promote emotional and spiritual growth.
EMDR
In an EMDR session, Debra may use EMDR to help the client bring a distressing memory to mind while guiding them through bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or tapping. This process supports the brain in reprocessing the memory so it becomes less emotionally overwhelming. The therapist checks in frequently, helping the client notice shifts in thoughts, emotions, and body sensations as the memory loses intensity. Over time, clients often develop more adaptive beliefs and a greater sense of calm around previously triggering experiences.
Couples Counseling
In couples counseling, couples may learn to slow down reactive patterns and communicate with more clarity, empathy, and teamwork. Sessions often focus on identifying shared goals for parenting, understanding each partner’s stressors, and practicing healthier ways to express needs and resolve conflict. Debra may help the couple build skills for collaborative problem‑solving so they can support each other and create a more stable, connected environment for their relationship & family.