LPCC, 20 years of experience
I am a licensed psychotherapist in CA, NC and SC. I have been a practicing clinician for more than 20 years, and have also supervised pre-licensed psychotherapists and graduate students for 11 years. I have an MS in Clinical Psychology from SFSU. Most important to me is building a trusting, warm and caring relationship with my clients. I use evidence based modalities such as EMDR, DBT, ACT, and CBT, and am also trained in psychodynamic and mindfulness based approaches. I also like to bring in art therapy, and somatic awareness when helpful. Every person is different, and I believe sessions should be focused on what is most supportive to each person.
Showing up and seeking support is half of the battle! My hope is that you will feel deeply seen, thoroughly listened to in our work together. In the first session I will gather information about your life, relationships, struggles, and goals for therapy. In subsequent sessions we will check in about your week and continue to work towards meeting your goals in therapy. My hope is to help support and empower you to live your most authentic, grounded, compassionate, and fulfilled life.
I am a seasoned therapist with well developed clinical intuition. I feel I have a strong capacity to attune to a variety of people due to my open-heartedness and life experience. I have had a meditation practice for 30 years which helps me tune up my own self awareness, and travel as often as possible. I feel every person regardless of their life's difficulties should be held in unconditional positive regard.
I work with diverse people who have experienced trauma, depression, anxiety, women's issues, medical trauma, identity, spiritual issues, and chronic mental illness. I have worked extensively with teenagers, adults, including older adults
I use ACT to help clients increase psychological flexibility and tolerance to life challenges. ACT can help promote insight and acceptance of one's experiences and offers positive coping strategies in alignment with individual values.
I have found EMDR to be helpful in transforming traumatic experiences that create reactive symptoms such as panic attacks, insomnia, fear, to the back burner of our psyches. Then we can tolerate these experiences without significant reactivity which offers a chance to deeply process and integrate traumatic and painful experiences.
CBT and CMT (Cognitive Mindfulness Therapy) supports clients in helping to develop awareness of irrational and unhelpful thought processes. This therapy offers opportunities to rethink and reapply new strategies to old ways of being that are no longer useful.
Self compassion is an important place to start for healing. We have to love ourselves where we are right now in order to change. Compassion focused therapy offers insight with Mindfulness and gentleness in order to help clients with present moment coping strategies
DBT provides skills to help manage difficult and overwhelming emotions, such as rage, anxiety, fear and depression.
10 ratings with written reviews
June 6, 2025
Her gentle voice was soothing. I felt no pressure from her. I would love to have my sessions with her again.
April 30, 2025
Deborah is wonderful. She has shown amazing grace. I couldn't be more thankful.
April 4, 2025
Deborah was very warm, welcoming and friendly! She really listened to me and what my needs were.