Debbie is a Licensed Social Worker with a Masters of Arts in Crisis Response & Trauma Counseling. After receiving her undergraduate, she spent over 15 years working with families and their children, especially with those navigating foster care and adoption. She is currently supervised by Emily Indorf, MA, LPCC-S.
Debbie’s heart is to provide a safe, non-judgemental space where individuals can start to heal. She is much like Deborah in the Bible who told Barak when he hesitated to go to war alone, “I will surely go with you.” (Judges 4:9a). Debbie believes in the therapeutic importance of walking into battle alongside you, reminding you that you are not alone. She aims to equip each individual with gained self-confidence, inner strength, and healthy coping skills they can use in everyday situations. She uses Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Strength Based Therapy, E.M.D.R (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), and Expressive Therapy. She tailors therapy to the unique strengths and learning style of each individual. This creates an environment where art, music, writing, and even drums can be used to help process therapeutic concepts and apply outside of therapy.
Debbie has worked with all ages, families, and groups. Her main areas of focus are adolescents, adults, and families who are struggling with PTSD, anxiety, depression, adjustment issues, foster care and adoption, abuse, attachment issues, and individuals with developmental delays. Additionally, Debbie has experience with grief work which includes loss, divorce, separation, and the loss of biological parents through the foster care system. Debbie has worked across all environments including schools, home-based, office settings, and hospitals including 3 years in a pediatric psychiatric inpatient unit. Debbie uses drums, art, and play to help younger children and children with developmental/emotional delays express their emotions. She has found that even teens and adults tend to like the soothing sound of the steel drum. (Who would have thought that drums and soothing could be in the same sentence regarding counseling!) Drums have also been an effective resource for bilateral reprocessing in EMDR. Debbie has been married to her husband Josh since 2001. Together, they tag-team parent 4 children. They have an adopted son who is now out of the home and navigating the adult world. Still at home are their 3 teenage daughters, who are actively participating in sports such as cross country, basketball, and volleyball, along with church activities and singing. (One of them, or all three, are always singing!) A verse that motivates her to serve others is Psalm 147:3 “ He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” At work and in the community, Debbie and her husband want to touch God’s people with His love. They have served the inner-city of Akron for over 20 years in multiple capacities. Her true passion is serving alongside her husband to teens and young adults, helping them grow in their relationship with Christ to be able to see themselves through the eyes of Christ, while helping them discover their God given gifts and purpose.