Deborah's Biography and Training

Deborah is the Director of the Family Christian Counseling Center of Phoenix. She has extensive training and experience in treating children and has been serving families for over 25 years.  She is one of a handful of Registered Play Therapist Supervisors in the state of Arizona. Her specialty is helping children recover from trauma, abuse and neglect. She is skilled at treating attachment issues.

Deborah uses expressive techniques to engage children in the therapy process and bring about change. These techniques include sand tray, drama, art techniques, play therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Deborah also has therapy dog named Helper. She is useful in helping children address difficult topics. Deborah is skilled in supporting foster and adoptive families, especially with regard to attachment issues. She understands the extreme pressure families face when parenting troubled children.

Additionally Deborah treats a wide range of issues concerning children and teens. These include school problems, divorce adjustment, grief and loss, anxiety, depression and conduct disorders. Deborah has presented at the National Attach Conference and locally for the Arizona Play Therapy Association and others. She has been providing supervision for therapists for the past 12 years.

Deborah Post-Graduate Training

 

     History of Play Therapy

History of Play Therapy by Teri Krull, RPT-S November 10, 2001 (4CEU)

 

     Theories of Play Therapy

*15th Annual Association for Play Therapy International Conference October 14,15,16,&17, 1998 ( 25 ECU ) Child-Centered Play Therapy by Gary Landreth – Puppet Metaphors ( Adlerian ) by Terry Kottman

* Play Assessment: An Ecosystemic Approach June 21,1999 (6 CEU )by Sue Ammen, Kevin O’Connor; Director

* Short Term Play Therapy with Sexually Abuse Children June 25, 1999 ( 6 CEU ) by Loretta Gallo-Lopez, Kevin O’Connor; Director

* Attachment Theory and Play Therapy Techniques for Working with Foster and Adopted Children – Thursday, September 19, 2002  ( 2.5 CEU )

* Three Theories of Play Therapy, The RPT Evening Educational Series  April 19, 2001( 2 CEU )

 

     Techniques and Methods of Play Therapy

* Group Play Activity Therapy  June 18, 1999  ( 6 CEU ) by Sue Bratton,  Kevin O’ Connor; Director

* Families Joining Together in Play Therapy  June 19, 1999 ( 6 CEU ) by Sue Bratton, Kevin O’Connor; Director

* The use of Art and Sandplay in Play Therapy June 22, 1999 ( 6 CEU ) by Marji Bouwmans, Kevin O’Connor:Director

* Strategies for Using Interpretation and Enhancing Children’s Verbalization in Play Therapy – June 23, 1999 ( 6 CEU ) by  Kevin O’Connor

* Art Techniques for Understanding Children and Families in Play Therapy March 23 & 24, 2001 (13 CEU ) by Terry Kottman

* Healing Through Sand Play, The RPT Evening Educational Series May 17, 2001 ( 2 CEU )

* Theraplay: An overview. By Phyllis B. Booth  Oct. 3, 2001 (5.5 CEU)

* New Techniques for Use in the Playroom, AZAPT 2003 Educational Series, by Teri Krull, CISW, May 15, 2003 ( 2.5 CEU )

* Association for Play Therapy: 21st Conference – Denver, Colorado – October 5-9, 2004  – (  14.50  CEU )

*Introductory Marschak Interaction Method and Theraplay Course – September 8, 2006 (26 CEU)

*26th Annual Conference of the Association for Play Therapy – October 6-11, 2009 Atlanta, GA. (21 CEU)

*Introduction to Experiential Play Therapy by Nancy Taylor – AZAPT November 19, 2009 (2.5 CEU)

*Play Therapy with Abused and Traumatized Children by Dr. Eliana Gil – AZAPT 15th Annual Conference, February 26-27, 2010. (13 CEU)

*Arizona Association for Play Therapy – “The Play Therapist goes to Court” by Frieda Ling, May 20,2010 (2.5 CEU)

*Facilitating Emotional Regulations with Young Children Utilizing Play Therapy by Tomko, Gonzales, Parker-Johnson, Aranda AZAPT October 21, 2010 (2.5 CEU)

*Ethics of Play Therapy in a Changing World, 3 hours, 2/17/2013

 

     Applications of Play Therapy

* Child Sexual Abuse: Assessment and Treatment 1-31-97  (6 CEU) by Honey Scheff

* Play Therapy with Children in the Crises of Family Breakdown 6-9-97 (6 CEU) by Nancy Boyd Webb

* Play Therapy With Victims of Physical Abuse  June 24, 1999 ( 6 CEU ) by Kevin O’Connor

* Guide to Treating Complex Attachment-Trauma Problem  April 14,&15, 2000 ( 13 CEU ) by Beverly James

* Presented Training on Using Play Therapy in Adoption  6-9-00

* Recognizing and Treating Sensory Integration Problems in Children Using Music Therapy and Sensory Integrative Techniques January 17, 2002 (2.5 CEU) by Sheryl Kelly

* An Integrated Play Therapy Approach To Working with Child Trauma Victims and their Families March 16-17, 2002 (13 CEU’s) by Eliana Gil, Ph.D.

* Conducting Forensically Informed Play Therapy in Child Maltreatment Cases: Evaluating, Interviewing and Treating the Sexually Abused Child March 21, 2002 by Diana Vigil, MA (2.5 CEU )

* Helping Play Therapists Understand and Treat Autism and Asperpers Disorder in Children, August 7, 2002 by Janet Kerwin, RN (1CEU)

* Association for Play Therapy:  20th Annual Conference  – Norfolk, VA – October 7-11, 2003   (14.5CEU)

Strategies for Effective Supervision in Play Therapy by Terry Kottman, Ph.D. RPT-S – (4 CEU)

*  The Arizona Association for Play Therapy – Executive Functioning & Attention:  Pediatric Neuropsychology & Related Topics  by Paul Beljan, Psy.D. ABPdN– January 15, 2004 – 2.5 CE

*Assessment Strategies & Therapeutic Parenting Techniques for Working with the Reactive Attachment Disordered Child  – October 16, 2003 ( 2.5 CEU )

* Play Therapy Techniques to Help Children Successfully Deal with the Foster Care/Adoption Transition – presenter Sharon Carl at the Phoenix Crisis Nursery on August 19, 2004 –( 2.5 CEU )

* Association for Play Therapy: 21st Conference – Denver, Colorado – October 5-9, 2004  – (  14.50  CEU )

*  Treating Young Traumatized Children Using Attachment-Based Play Therapy by Linda Gray, MA, LPC Feb 17, 2005 (2.5 CEU)

* Helping Children Focus: Integrating Occupational Therapy Techniques in the Play Therapist’s Repertoire by Christina Eng, OTR/L  Jan. 20, 2005 ( 2.5 CEU )'s,

*Facilitating Emotional Regulation with Young Children Utilizing Play Therapy, 2.5 CEU 10/21/2010

*Promoting Vertical and Horizontal Integration in Play Therapy by Ana Gomez. March 30, 2012 (3 CEU's)

*The Value of Integrated Play Therapy: Helping children of divorce heal through play therapy; and play therapy with adults by Teri Krull. May 5, 2012 (6 CEU's)

*Integrating Play Therapy with Children Birth to five by Tomko, Gonzales, Parker-Johnson, and Aranda. AZAPT October 25, 2012 (2.5 CEU's)

*Eat Right to Heal: Integrating Nutrition into Play Therapy by Jan Katzen-Luchenta, AZAPT September 25th, 2013 (2 CEU’s)

*The Association for Play Therapy: 30th Annual Conference, October 8th-13th, 2013 (6 CEU’s)

*Ecosystemic Play Therapy and its Application to the Treatment of Children with Attachment Issues by Kevin O’Conner, AZAPT February 14th and 15th, 2013 (10 CEU’s)

*Art Therapy in the Play Therapy Office by Edie Moore, AZAPT November 13th, 2013 (2 CEU’s)

*Using Play Therapy and the Neuroscience of Mindfulness to Regulate Children by Gabrielle Lawrence, AZAPT January 30th, 2014 (2 CEU’s)

*Forensically Informed Therapy in the Play Room by Julie Skakoon, AZAPT November 12th, 2014 (2 CEUs)

*Culture, Metaphor, and Play: Finding Resilience through the Storms by Joyce Mills, November 29, 2014 (3 CEU)

*Assessment and Treatment of Children on Autism Spectrum.  12 CEU's, 2/20 and 2/21/2015

*The Neurobiology of Play Therapy: How to Improve our Practice. 13 CEU's, 2/5 and 2/6/2016

*Play Therapy with Military: Understanding Culture and Lifestyle, 3 CEU's, 11/28/2016

*Adventure Based Play Therapy with Teens and Tweens, 3 CEU's, 2/17/2017

*The Play Therapy at its Best - Series 2, by Terri Krull, 5.5 contact hours, 5/19/2017

*Baby Brains: Developmentally Sensitive Play Therapy with Infants and Young Children, 6.5 CEU's, 2/16/2018

*Play Therapy - Fun for the Whole Family. 5.5 CEU's, 2/17/2018

*Developmentally Sensitive Play Therapy, 6.5 hours, 2/16/2018

*Terapia Lucida: Play Therapy for Spanish Speakers: A Bilingual Presentation. 3 CEU's, 11/21/2018

 

     Supervision

* Association for Play Therapy:  20th Annual Conference  – Norfolk, VA – October 7-11, 2003   (14.5CEU) Strategies for Effective Supervision in Play Therapy by Terry Kottman, Ph.D. RPT-S – (4 CEU)

* Clinical Supervision Skills in Behavioral Health: Ethical and Best Practice Issues by Jane M. Campbell, Ph.D., NCC, ACS 07-10-03 ( 6CEU )

*Play Therapy Supervision by Teri Krull – November 14, 2008 Mesa, Arizona (4CEU)

*26th Annual Conference of the Association for Play Therapy in Atlanta, GA. October 6-11, 2009 (6 CEU)

*Clinical Supervision for Supervisor Day 1 by Robert Rhonton, July 20,2012 (6CEU)

*What Makes Supervising Play Therapists Different by APT, November 28th, 2014, (3 CEU’s)

*Clinical Supervision: A Person-Centered Approach by Jamie Marich, July 8, 2015 (10 CEU).

*Components of Clinical Supervision - Stages of Counselor Development. 10 CEU's, 7/18/2015

*Ethical Risks: Making Decisions and Taking Action, 3 CEU's, 11/28/16

*The Clinical Supervision Tutorial on Arizona Statutes/Regulations, 3 CEU's, 11/20/2018

 

Neurosequential Training

*Phase I Certification in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics by Bruce Perry, August 24, 2013 (90 credit hours)

*Phase II Certification in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics by Bruce Perry, July 2, 2015 (82 credit hours) 

 

  EMDR

*Arizona Association for Play Therapy – “EMDR and Play Therapy with Children” by Ana Gomez, August 13, 2010 (6 CEU)

*Healing the caregiving system: Using EMDR therapy, the Adult attachment interview and attachment theory to promote metalizing capacity and reflective function in parents. By Ana Gomez, August 24th and 25th, 2012 (13 CEU)

*Complex Trauma, Attachment and Dissociative Symptoms: Treating Children with pervasive Emotion Dysregulation Using EMDR and Adjunct Approaches by Ana Gomez, EMDR Institute and Childhelp sponsors, November 12th and 13th, 2014 (14CEUs)

*Attachment-Focused EMDR Healing Developmental Deficits and Adults Abused as Children by Laurel Parnell, January 9 - 10, 2015 (12 hours CEU)

*The Wounded Child: EMDR Therapy with Children and Adolescents with Dissociation - Module 3 and 4, 6 hours, 3/24 and 25/2017

*EMDR and Complex Trauma Dissociation, by Ana Gomez,  40 hours, 6/25-6/29 2018

 

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Training

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy for the treatment of trauma: Affect Dysregulation, Survival Responses, and Trauma Memory by the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute, 80 contact hours, May 2020

 

Other Training

* ADHD Children and Adolescents Workshops 1-31-95  (6.5 CEU) by John Taylor

* Wounded Heart Seminar by Dan Allender

* Family Attachment Institute Training for Professionals and Parents  Sept. 23,24,25, & 26, 1998 Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Treatment of Children with Attachment Problems. (20 hrs )

* Healing Shattered Lives: Effective Help for Reactive Attachment Disorder Feb. 11, 12, 1999 (12 ECU) Origins- Child Development, Brain Development, Diagnosis, Treatment

* 25th Annual Adoption Conference- Permanent Families  July 28 & 29 – August 1, 1999 ( 28 CEU )

* Helping Children Heal Broken Hearts. Treating and Parenting Children with Reactive Attachment – Disorder March 16,17,& 18, 1999 ( 18 CEU )  by Nancy Thomas and Bill Goble

* Principles of Assessment and Intervention with Troubled Families and Their Infants by Michael Trout, M.A., April 8, 1999 ( 6 CEU )

* The 13th Annual International Conference on Attachment and Bonding, October 3-6 200!, (22 CE)

* EMDR Level I Training  Oct. 26, 27, & 28 2001 (17 CEU )

* Treating The At-Risk-Parent: Understanding Adult Attachment Disorder Feb. 8, 2002 (4 CEU) by Kenneth E. Miller, CISW

* Anger, Rage, and Hope: The Brain/Rage Connection July 11, 2002 (6 CEU) by Cross Country University

* Sharpening the Focus on Attachment , The 14th Annual International Conference on Attachment and Bonding Oct. 16, 17, 18, & 19, 2002 (17 CEU)

*  Family Attachment Therapy – Trainer Elene Cregut, CPC –  Instruction Utilizing Didactic and Experiential Methods Including Supervised Practicum – May 29, 2001 – 285 Hours

*Training in Treatment Interventions for Children with Severe Unresolved Attachment Disorders by Bill Goble Ph.D.  June 2001 to  Oct. 2001

*   Understand and Treating Reactive Attachment Disorder by Medical Educational Services Aug. 23, 2002 ( 5.5 CEU )

*  Attachment Disorders: A Team Approach, and Advanced Therapeutic Parent Treatment Strategies, by Nancy Thomas, Therapeutic Parenting Specialist, hosted    by S.A.F.F.E. Aug. 29,2002 ( 6.5 CEU)

*  Shelter from the Storm – Clinical intervention with children affected by domestic violence by the Christian Family Care Agency – October 15, 2002 –    4.75 Hours

*  Animal-Assisted Therapy – The Healing Power of the Four Footed Co-Therapist – Verna Pearson – December 8, 2003 – (6.0 CEUs)

* Attachment from the Beginning –  Co-sponsored by the Psycho Educational Resources, Inc. – Greg Neimeyer, Ph.D. – September 24-27 –( 16.00 CEU )

*Clinical – Object Relations Couples Therapy by Schraff (Video) by CFCA – November 20, 2003 – 1Hour

* Stress Management For Women presented by Fred Pryor Seminars in Overland Park, Kansas on August 24, 2004 – ( 6 CEU)

* Staying True to the Model:  Efficacy of EMDR with Children presented by Robbie Adler-Tapia, Carolyn Settle, Debra Onsager and sponsored by AZ EMDRIA Regional Committee on June 12, 2004  ( 4 CEU)

* Awakening the Heart Within: A New Model of Healing for Reactive Attachment Disorder by Ms. Holly van Gulden 06-27-03 ( 6CEU )

* 1st Annual Experts in Adoption Conference sponsored by Christian Family Care Agency in Phoenix and featuring Sherrie Eldridge on September 16, 2004 –  ( 6.25 CEU )

* 1st Annual Experts in Attachment Conference sponsored by Christian Family Care Agency in Phoenix and featuring Adoption Specialist Holly Van Gulden on September 17, 2004  ( 6.25 CEU )

* New England Educational Institute – Affect Regulation and the Repair of the Self  by Alan Shore        October 29-31 in Santa Fe, NM – ( 15 CEU )

* General Assessment Training – Division of Behavioral Health Services – February 6, 2004 Presented by Bob Bohanske, PH.D and Abra Arlinsky, M.C. –(  8.0 CEU )

*Establishing a Home Environment in which Children can Succeed by Alberto Texidor – Christian Family Care Agency, April 5, 2007 (2 CEU)

*Sensory Integration by Lindsay Cavner: Christian Family Care Agency, April 28, 2008 (1 CEU)

*Positive Behavior Support by Davidson and Perelli. Maricopa Learning and Performance – Magellan. August 13,2009 (6 CEU)

*Toxic Stress in Infancy and Early Childhood: Its Effects on Physiology and Behavior by Weigand. The Infant Toddler Mental Health Coalition of Arizona March 5, 2010 ASU Tempe, AZ (3 CEU)

*The ethics of Trauma work by Kevin Jessup. August 4, 2012 (3 CEU's)

*Natural Therapies for Healthy brains by Jan Kaizen and Jamie Oskin, September 13, 2012 (1 CEU)