Debra Bergman

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 30 years of clinical experience. I have extensive experience working with individuals needing help with anxiety, depression, impulse control, addiction, chronic and life-threatening illness, life transitions, grief and loss, relationship/family problems, stress management, and job stress. Additionally, my 20 years of experience as a manager and senior manager in the healthcare arena, as well as my work as an employee assistance professional, has enabled me to provide coaching for those wishing to develop/enhance leadership skills, improve professional relationships, and address workplace issues. My 30-plus years of experience as a yoga practitioner (and former teacher), has provided me with skills to help you develop mindfulness, better manage stress and find more balance in your life.

My approach

I have a strength-based approach to therapy. I combine a variety of modalities, perspectives, and techniques including client-centered, cognitive behavioral, existential, humanistic, mindfulness, solution-focused, somatic, and trauma-informed care. I work with your individual needs/strengths, goals, and preferences to let go of unhelpful patterns of behavior, develop new tools and skills, and enhance your resilience.

My focus

My ideal client is someone 18 years - older adult, who wants help feeling better in their daily lives. One of my strengths is to help you clarify what isn't working, support you to express and process difficult feelings and guide you to begin to implement supportive tools and techniques. I utilize worksheets and homework when it can be helpful.

My communication style

I listen to understand my client's needs, ask questions to provide clarification, and provide feedback, as appropriate. My personal style is warm and engaging. I am both supportive and directive, recognizing that sometimes we need to be validated, while other times we need to be challenged, while also supported.

My journey to mental healthcare

After undergoing my own therapy in my early-mid twenties, I experienced how truly life-changing the process can be. As a result, I made a career change, getting my MA in Educational Psychology from Cal State Northridge. I had a variety of training experiences working with the specialties of addiction, eating disorders, chronic illness, and bereavement. Additionally, I trained in a sliding scale clinic with a wide range of individuals, many of whom struggled with depression, anxiety, and mood disorders. I have worked with individuals, couples, and families, in addition to facilitating groups. Concurrently, I trained as a yoga instructor and studied meditation and mindfulness. Though I no longer teach, I continue to practice yoga and meditation. I continue to participate in a variety of training to enhance my growth, both as a therapist and in my personal life.

My goals for you

While everyone comes into therapy with different needs, most are seeking help because they are experiencing emotional pain and/or feeling stuck in their lives. My initial goal in therapy is to help you develop and utilize tools to reduce your immediate emotional distress. Beyond that, I want to understand what you would like to accomplish in therapy, work with you to develop a plan to help get you there and begin to help you implement that plan through our sessions. We will revise your goals, as needed, throughout the course of treatment. I will work with your individual needs so that you may express, clarify and understand your feelings, enhance your relationships, develop new skills, and ultimately make desired life changes.

My first session with you

In addition to reviewing the intake information, I want to learn more about what brings you to therapy and what you would like to accomplish. It is an opportunity for me to get to know you, as well as an opportunity for you to discuss your needs, ask questions, and see if you are comfortable working with me. I'll want to know what's been helpful and less helpful if you've had previous therapy. We'll discuss goals for treatment and begin to develop a roadmap for accomplishing them.