(805) 882-2424 x 307
dharkin@ftisb.org
Education, Professional Training & Publications
B.A. in Psychology with Distinction, University of Wisconsin, 1976
Ph.D.. in Clinical Psychology with specialty in Somatic Psychology, Santa Barbara Graduate Institute, 2007
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (81345, State of California)
Shared Crossing: The Final Journey, Memoir by Deborah Harkin, 2023
Part 1. The Adolescent Brain: A Decade of Research,
Part 2. The Adolescent Brain: Clinical Applications
USA Body Psychotherapy Journal, 2009
Treatment Philosophy & Approach
I think of therapy as the opening of a conversation. Often, the struggles that bring us to therapy are invitations—doorways to growth, change, and new possibilities. My approach is grounded in psychodynamic, family systems, cognitive-behavioral, and somatic psychotherapy. I also draw from attachment theory, neuroscience principles, and mindfulness practices to support a holistic and integrative process. I work collaboratively with each client to identify personal strengths and inner resources as the foundation for navigating life’s challenges. Effective therapy can bring about, not only new insights—but shifts in the way we experience our lives. My style is warm, open, and actively engaged.
Professional & Volunteer Experience
I have a diverse background in social services, business, the arts, and education. After completing my undergraduate studies in Psychology, I worked in the group foster care system in Madison, Wisconsin. I later studied dance in New York City, where I worked for a travel company, managed fashion productions, and ran a tour to the 1984 Winter Olympics. Before returning to my lifelong interest in psychology, I worked in the entertainment industry as a development executive, interfacing with networks, writers, producers, and directors.
After completing my PhD, I served as faculty at the Santa Barbara Graduate Institute. During my internship at the Family Therapy Institute, I supported groups and workshops run by my colleague William Peters that became the foundation for the Shared Crossing Project. I am the author of Shared Crossing: The Final Journey, a memoir, that places the extraordinary experiences that can be shared between the living and the dying within the challenges of caregiving.
Specialties & Areas of Expertise
I work with individuals, couples and families. My specialties include anxiety, depression, trauma and post-traumatic growth, as well as major life transitions such as career change, separation and divorce, empty nesting, caregiving of aging parents, grief and loss. I’ve travelled extensively in Europe, India and Southeast Asia and enjoy working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Personal Life
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, the beauty of nature, studying history, travel, dance, and tai chi.