WELCOME

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“No one can persuade another to change. Each of us guards a gate of change that

can only be opened from the inside.” - Virginia Satir, Family Therapy Co-Founder

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Debbie's life purpose is to help support women and youth on their journey of inner work.

She knows authentic change is graced in the balance of body, mind, and spirit. This

discovery can feel locked away behind the emotional gate of our hearts, but she also 

knows that you have the key!

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She helps people live in harmony, embrace hope, and find healing.

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Dr. Debbie's speaking topics, workshops, seminars and presentations include:

 

• Infant mental health

• Holistic wellness 

• Soul care and mindfulness

• Solutions to generational trauma & Epigenetics

• Suicide Prevention

• Healing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)

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Dr. Debbie is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Peacock Soul Care certified Spiritual Director. Her therapeutic philosophy is influenced by Virginia Satir's Transformational Systemic Therapy, people making, and systemic change ideals. Her spiritual direction practice is influenced by Dr. Barbara L. Peacock Institute for Spiritual Formation and Direction. Dr. Debbie's work stems from a protective factors foundation which scaffolds a trauma-informed and resiliency-rooted lens. She looks at the intergenerational impact of unresolved trauma, adverse/positive childhood experiences, and the beauty that rises from the ashes of repair.

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Dr. Debbie is sincerely avid about helping women and youth solve problems to

unlock their potential- mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. She believes words

transform which is why she uses her communications and therapeutic

background to help women build their self-esteem, use their words effectively,

improve how they relate to challenging people or situations, manifest their dreams

and ultimately, resolve conflicts in peace.

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Educational Grounding 

Debbie graduated magna cum laude from Howard University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and African American Studies. Early in her professional practice, Debbie experienced a divine shift that she describes as her “Career vs. her Calling” journey. It was also during this time that she learned of a close family member who struggled with clinical depression and suicide. After wanting to do more to support her family and community as it concerns mental health, she left the media field to focus full-time on mental wellness and family therapy.

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Dr. Debbie has since earned a dual Master of Science in Mental Health/ Marriage and Family Therapy from Palm Beach Atlantic University and completed her Doctorate of Marriage and Family Therapy at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine. For 2019- 2021, Debbie was selected as an AAMFT/SAMHSA MFP national Doctoral Fellow. The AAMFT/SAMHSA MFP stands for the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) in partnership with the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Her MFP project was focused on using the lens of IMH diversity-informed tenets, Satir Family Therapy, and reducing inequities in care for African American infant mortality. She created the Birth Equity Toolkit for Family Therapists to learn their role in supporting the grief journey of mothers and fathers impacted by infertility, miscarriage, stillborn, or infant mortality. The MFP program was such an integral part of her quantitative and qualitative research that she has returned as an MFP Doctoral Alumnae to mentor current MFPs.

 

In 2022, she was awarded received the received the Chancellors Award from the NSU Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine for "demonstrating the characteristics of scholarship, leadership, integrity, humanity, and loyalty to the profession of Marriage and Family Therapy". Debbie is also the past recipient of the Golden Key International Honour Society Graduate Scholarship Award (2010), Honorable Mention designee for the JM Lexus African American Achievers Award for Community Service (2012), and first ever Women of Tomorrow Graduate Scholar (2016).

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Dr. Debbie is trained in and embraces the following modalities: Touchpoints (Harvard University Boston Children’s Hospital approach to working with families), Narrative Therapy (NSU), EMDR (Center for Creative Mindfulness), Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Art Therapy with Mindfulness Techniques (CP), Play Therapy Techniques (CP), Newborn Behavioral Observation (Brazelton), Trauma Focused- CBT (MUSC), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CHS), Incredible Years Parenting Series Group Leader (IY), Child Parent Psychotherapy (FSU), Solution Focused Approach (CSC), SIX SIGMA Yellow Belt (CSC), Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention (CSC), Calming Children in Crisis (CHS), Infant Mental Health Level 1 & 2 (CSC), Prepare ENRICH certified Trainer, Marriage Counselor/ Mentor (SFACC), and many others.

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Debbie's vision is to introduce one million families to the integrated healing arts and wholistic lens of family therapy, infant mental health, and spiritual disciplines.

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Community Outreach

Within the community, Debbie is extremely passionate about promoting mental wellness in diverse communities.

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As a Communications Specialist and Mental Health Ministry Advocate, Debbie leads the #FaithAndTherapy social change initiative for bring attention to mental health and suicide prevention in faith-based, diverse, and underserved communities. Her goal is to help bring awareness to Mental Health, stop the stigma, and save lives from suicide. Under President Obama’s Administration, Debbie was invited to the White House for their “Making Healthcare Better Series on Suicide Prevention” and she has used what she learned to complete over 190 presentations to local churches, nonprofits, and community-based events. 

 

Dr. Debbie is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Board Director for the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, NAMI PBC volunteer, Healthier Delray Beach faith-based therapy speaker/consultant, Faith-Based Mental Health Initiative (FBMHI) Southern Regional Collaborative consultant/trainer, and honors member of Delta Kappa- Omicron Chapter (International Marriage & Family Therapy Honor Society). She is also a lifetime member of National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the International Family Therapy Association where she was featured in their online magazine: IFTA E-News. As a member of the T. Leroy Jefferson Medical Society (TLJMS), she hosts workshops and completed podcasts on compassion fatigue and mindfulness in support of the Black medical community.

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Dr. Debbie is incredibly grateful for the experiences and is committed to continue excellence in family therapy for America and the global community. During the national COVID-19 pandemic, she wanted to do more to help empower mental health professionals as essential workers. As such, she won a mini grant from Healthier Neighbors in 2020 and BeWellPBC in 2022. Dr. Debbie used the funds to create #FaithAndTherapy “Mental Health & Church Conference”, a national learning experience for therapists and ministry leaders on World Mental Health Day at Palm Beach Atlantic University. She also created the Mental Health Ministry Diversity Scholarship with funds from the grants to award a minority scholar studying for their master’s degree to become a therapist. In 2021, with an additional Community Impact Grant from the AAMFT MFP, Dr. Debbie completed two initiatives. She led educational events for therapists on substance abuse and suicide prevention in partnership with local nonprofits (Healthier Delray Beach and the Hanley Foundation). ​In the heart of the pandemic, she also launched her nonprofit, private practice start-up, “Protective Factors Group” (PFG). PFG is focused on decreasing the stigma and disparities of mental health in diverse communities through building a culturally responsive workforce. PFG provides family therapy modalities for couples and individuals, youth and adults rooted in evidence-base clinical care and cultural humility training. 

 

Due to her servant leadership, Dr. Debbie was nominated as the Palm Beach County Behavioral Health Coalition Champion for Faith-Based outreach (2019) and she was honored as a TLJMS Healthcare Professional of the Year (non-physician, 2018) nominee for increasing awareness on mental health and substance abuse prevention. Other awards include: 2016 & 2017 Legacy Magazine as one of "South Florida's Top Black Leaders of Today and Tomorrow",

2016 "Education & Empowerment Honoree" from the National Council of 100 Black Women (South Palm Beach Chapter), 2017 Florida Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Doctoral Student Award, and 2018 New Leaders Council- Palm Beach Fellow. As a Palm Beach Chapter NLC Fellow, Debbie presented a SPARK!TALK to over 400 attendees at the National NLC conference in Houston, TX on suicide prevention. In 2021, she was awarded the Faith-based Champion Award by the Palm Beach County Behavioral Health Coalition for leading empowering mental wellness trainings and events in communities of faith. In 2022, she served as the Keynote Speaker on “Epigenetics: Roots of Trauma and Resilience” for NAMI Pathways to Hope Conference held at the Historic Missionary Baptist Church in West Palm Beach. Dr. Debbie was awarded the 2022 HERSTORY Award by the National Coalition of 100 Black Women (NCBW) Palm Beach County Chapter for providing healing and promoting hope in the community. In 2023, Dr. Debbie was recognized as a Boris P. Henson Foundation Joy Awards Nominee & Top Finalist. Lastly, in 2024 as Dr. Debbie continues living out her #FaithAndTherapy calling, she was a featured expert on ABC News WPBF 25: National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month: Faith and Religion​

 

When she is not leading or serving in those capacities, she is growing in the exciting club of motherhood! Dr. Debbie is a proud mom of two brilliant children that help keep her growing and learning daily. She and her partner have been together for over 20 years. They are living proof that pain cannot destroy your purpose. Each day, she uses her life experiences and expertise to inspire everyone to let their God given gifts shine!

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She is so grateful for her journey and attributes God’s grace and guidance for her many opportunities to serve. Her goal is that all people find harmony, hope, and healing.

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To request a consultation or to contract with Dr. Debbie for a staff workshop, retreat, event keynote, or University guest speaker, click on the message tab above or email her at dmempowers@gmail.com.  

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“I want to love you without clutching, appreciate you without judging, join you without

invading, invite you without demanding, leave you without guilt, criticize you without

blaming, and help you without insulting. If I can have the same from you, then we can

truly meet and enrich each other.” - Virginia Satir, Family Therapy Founder

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