Meet Debra
In each of us, I see the resiliency of the human spirit and the potential for wholeness. Personally, and professionally, I know the transformative power of psychotherapy, consulting, and contemplative practices. Through compassionate presence, gentle inquiry, and kind humor, I join with clients and organizations in exploring their strengths and growing edges. I believe that we each have an inner wisdom that opens our hearts to living fully and in keeping with our highest purpose. I find that when we bring self-compassion and curiosity to our self-exploration, we reconnect with this wise inner guidance.
I approach my work with an integrative perspective based in mindfulness and compassion and informed by brain-based, psychodynamic, and somatic perspectives. I work best with people and organizations that are ready to heal or grow, to look deeply and honestly at limiting patterns, and to make changes.
Across the United States and internationally, I offer retreats, experiential workshops, keynotes, and plenary addresses on topics related to the integration of contemplative practices and psychotherapy, Polyvagal Theory applications, and compassion resilience. Whether offering continuing education or organizational consulting, I bring to trainings warmth, a respect for each individual, and a strengths-
based framework supporting growth and development.
Debra's Training and Credentials
I hold a Ph.D in Counseling Psychology from the University of Georgia. I completed a predoctoral internship at the University of Tennessee's Student Counseling Center and a postdoctoral fellowship at a community mental health center in Athens, Georgia. Simultaneous with conducting a part-time private practice, I worked as full-time clinical faculty at the University of Georgia, developing and leading the Mind/Body program. As the program lead, I developed a clinical services and training program focusing on the integration of contemplative practices and psychotherapy, provided supervision, and offered continuing education to internal healthcare and community providers. After transitioning to an academic faculty role, I taught health psychology, supervised the clinical work of graduate students, and served as project manager for an integrative healthcare training grant. I have over twenty-five years of clinical experience in private, educational, and public settings. I am licensed as a psychologist and as a professional counselor in the state of Georgia.
I have been a student and practitioner of contemplative practices for over thirty-five years earning over one thousand yoga teacher training hours and certification as a yoga therapist. Over the course of a decade, I studied intensely with the senior teachers and monastics of Integral Yoga. I then took Professional Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Training with Dr. Jon Kabat Zinn. A long-held interest in art and visual meditations led me to complete Mandala Teacher Training with Suzanne Fincher's Plum Blossom Studio. During the past five years, I have studied Vajrayana meditation practices under the personal direction of Namchak Khen Rinpoche Ngawang Gelek from the Tibetan Nyingma tradition.
Supported by many years of clinical and consulting experience and a daily contemplative practice, I offer the following services:
Telehealth Psychotherapy for adult individuals and for couples residing in Georgia
Consultation for psychotherapists and organizations
Mindful, organizational wellness and leadership training
Continuing education seminars
Keynote and plenary addressess