Hi, I’m Deb, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in the intersection of trauma, anxiety & relationships.
I was born in Maryland and raised in a multicultural family: my Ukrainian-Polish Jewish grandparents, my Swedish mother, and my American father. I grew up in a multilingual & multigenerational household, impacted by generations of war, migration, and unprocessed grief. Things were… complex, to put it gently. And feelings of disconnection left me confused about myself and lonely in ways I could never name.
I started my own therapy after college, and began a journey I could never have imagined. Hooked on learning more about psychology, I started working crisis lines, reading ravenously, and ultimately landed at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where I supported & published research on disordered eating patterns among youth. I went on to earn my M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Southern California.
I help people who feel disconnected find their way back to themselves, and to each other.
The Work I Do
I’ve had the privilege of doing this work from Washington, D.C., to New York, Los Angeles, and now Reno, Nevada. My training started in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and clinical research, but I quickly grew disillusioned by individualistic models that expect people to heal in isolation. Our sense of self doesn't get created in a vacuum, so why would we heal that way?
You don’t need another voice repeating coping skills or telling you to buy a program, app, or supplement. You need a guide who understands the messy intersections of your biology, history, and the broad web of systems and institutions that weren't always built for your safety.
Healing isn’t one-size-fits-all. My approach is relational and integrative because life is integrative; we cannot separate your experience from the world you live in and relationships you’re tied to. I will never tell you to do more or add to your plate. I want you to release what holds you back, build a life where you feel anchored, resilient, and connected to your body and your people.
Trauma-informed.
Evidence-based.
Client-centered.
-
I utilize Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), the gold standard for relational healing, to help partners and individuals move out of reactive patterns and into secure connection. My work is grounded in attachment theory, helping you understand how your history and biology impact your current relationships.
-
I use Somatic Therapy and mindfulness-based grounding to help you reconnect with your body’s wisdom. Instead of just talking about your stress, I work directly with your physical sensations to release tension and process stored trauma. This approach is essential for those dealing with chronic stress, burnout, or a 'disconnect' between their mind and body
-
Internal Family Systems helps you understand the different “parts” of yourself. By getting to know and care for the 'parts' of you that feel reactive or small during conflict, you can respond with clarity instead of old pain.
-
I help you track how your body and mind respond to safety, threat, and connection. Drawing from Polyvagal Theory and Interpersonal Neurobiology, we work to regulate your nervous system so you can move out of 'survival mode' (fight, flight, or freeze) and into a calm, grounded state. This is the foundation of trauma-informed therapy, moving you from reactive patterns to lasting resilience."
-
Nature-based healing uses the grounding power of the natural world to support emotional health. Whether we are incorporating ecotherapy principles or utilizing the local landscapes of Reno and the High Sierra, we bridge the gap between your internal experience and the stabilizing rhythms of the earth.
Why I Love What I Do
At the heart of my work is a deep belief in the healing power of presence, self-compassion, and reconnection - to ourselves, each other, and the natural world. I see therapy as a space where you don’t have to pretend, perform, or minimize your pain. Here, you can be messy, uncertain, grieving, angry, raw, and still worthy of care.
Healing doesn’t follow a straight line. We can’t rush growth. Here, we trust the unfolding.
I love this work because I get to watch 'over-achievers' finally learn that they are allowed to be messy. I love seeing a couple move from 'polite roommates' back into real, raw connection. I love seeing someone finally put down the weight of their family’s expectations and ask, 'Who am I, actually?'
I’m guided by a love for the earth and a deep commitment to climate and collective justice. My work is grounded in a liberation-oriented approach to care - one that honors your individual experience while recognizing the larger systems we’re all navigating.
Outside of the therapy room, you’ll find me hiking, listening to history podcasts, reading nerdy psychology books, jamming to new wave or ABBA, & watching re-runs of Gilmore Girls & Scrubs.
Advanced Trainings
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): Basic Training
Somatic CBT Practitioner: Certified through The Embody Lab
Assessment & Letter writing for Gender-Affirming Medical Interventions
Internal Family Systems (IFS) & IFIO: Clinical Trainings via the IFS Institute Online Circle
Discernment Counseling: Doherty Relationship Institute (In-Progress)
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Clinical Externship