Executive Director
(805) 882-2424 x 101
Deb@ftisb.org
Education, Professional Training & Publications
B.A. in Psychology with Distinction, Stanford University, 1974
M.S.W. in Community Mental Health. University of California at Berkeley, 1979
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LR9847, State of California)
California Community College Teaching Credential (242278)
EMDR Certification (1999) Clinical Hypnosis Certification (1982)
Certified in Nutritional and Integrative Medicine for Mental Health Professionals (2019)
Published with co-author Don MacMannis:
How’s Your Family Really Doing? 10 Keys to a Happy Loving Family, Winner of 2012 Book of the Year Award
Who’s the Boss? The Win-Win Way to Parent Your Defiant Strong-Willed Child
Treatment Philosophy & Approach
I believe that for therapy to be effective, the journey towards growth and change will address the whole person–body, mind, and spirit–addressing the client’s social interactions, behavior pattens, communication skills and relationship to self. I want to foster deep emotional healing, while respecting each individual’s unique cultural legacy and spiritual worldview. I work with individuals, couples, and whole families. My style is direct, providing a safe environment as well as specific help with problem-solving. I want to give my clients practical and positive tools and techniques to treat themselves and others with more compassion and better means of communicating.
Professional Experience
Before founding FTI in 1979, I was the Executive Director of Social Advocates for Youth in Mountain View, CA working with runaways and delinquent youth and their families. In addition to my role at FTI, I have taught family therapy, couples therapy and clinical skills courses in the master’s programs at both Antioch University and Pacifica Graduate Institute. I also have done teaching, supervising and consulting for other local agencies such as CALM, Family Services, and the Santa Maria Youth & Family Center and am available for consulting to other non-profits. Every year in the winter, I offer a course for licensed therapists and associates covering advanced clinical topics in law and ethics. If you wish to be put on the mailing list for future workshops, please do so here.
Specialties & Areas of Expertise
Although I treasure my work with individuals and couples, my passion is working with families. I especially love to work with three generational families. I was very lucky to be trained by some of the founding family therapists such as Virginia Satir, Salvador Minuchin, Charles Fishman, Carl Whitaker, and Dick Fisch from MRI. I think that I have seen about every presenting problem that you can think of and love the variety of my practice. I interweave EMDR into my work whenever helpful and have recently also done Ketamine assisted psychotherapy, prescribed by a physician when appropriate. It can break through deeply engrained negative patterns and provide insights and allow for breakthroughs and exploration of deeper levels of consciousness.
Personal Life
I am blessed to be married to my partner, Don MacMannis, at work and at home for over 40 years. We have raised two sons who have in turn married. We have four grandchildren and more on the way. I treasure my time with friends and family playing games or just hanging out. I find deep respite in nature and love hiking or walking in the mountains and forests, talking and listening to plants and animals. I photograph and paint landscapes, garden, make jewelry and am always reading, learning and exploring new ideas.