Debbie Ribera
Hi! My name is Debbie and I have been a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in the state of California since 2014. I also have a doctoral degree in Cultural Studies. I am here to guide you as we recognize and reveal the inherent wisdom that is already present within you.
So my goal in working with you is not to have a life-long client, but to work with you as long as our process is a useful tool for you in the journey of waking up to your own inherent wisdom.
I want you to feel empowered, emboldened, and comforted by our therapeutic process. I am overjoyed by your small successes and motivated by even tiny steps made towards achieving your goals!
First session
First sessions often include a lot of information gathering and logistics, but my main priority is that you leave our first session with some sense of relief. Whether that comes from venting, learning more about what therapy is, setting an initial goal, actively practicing a new coping skill or all of the above, I will work to ensure that your unique needs are addressed from the first session.
Strengths
My greatest strength as a therapist is that I genuinely love people. I love to listen to, learn from, and understand others. I have a lot of training and education, but I am the therapist I am because of all of the incredible clients I have had who have taught me so many things over the course of my career. Together, they've contributed to a well of wisdom I carry that I am honored to share with you. Connecting with you is a deeply meaningful experience for me and I don't take it lightly. When we are in session, I am focused 100% on you and your needs.
Ideal clients
I enjoy and have experience working with clients of all ages facing all types of challenges. I have specialized experience working with children, teens, and young adults. My clients are typically facing significant challenges in their life and need someone in their corner to help them through trauma, crisis, or transition.
Treatment methods
Integrative
I practice an integrative approach to therapy that draws from evidence-based schools of thought using culturally responsive, trauma-informed principles and techniques from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness approaches, somatic approaches, and relationship-based therapies.
Location
Virtual sessions