As a sociologist with 30 years in mental health, victim advocacy, and nonprofit leadership, Deborah offers a well-rounded, direct, and cliché‑free approach to growth.
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She helps clients find calm amidst chaos and navigate life changes (big and small) using their intuition, without abandoning logic and reason.
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About Deborah
Educational
Background
Deborah earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at Austin in 1992, with a major in Sociology and a minor in Economics. She completed her Master of Arts in Sociology in 1995 from the University of North Texas.
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Deborah taught Sociology at the college level (within the Dallas County Community College District) for a year before diving into the fields of mental health and victim advocacy.
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Throughout the career that followed, Deborah participated in countless training workshops and state, regional, and national conferences, both as an attendee and presenter. From Criticial Incident Stress Management to Non-Profit Management certifications, Deborah enjoyed a robust education beyond academe.
Crisis Services,
Victim Advocacy,
Mental Health
Deborah spent 13 years in the field of victim advocacy, assisting people of all ages who were affected by violence and traumatic events. She sat with people during the hardest moments of their lives and accompanied countless victims to hearings and trials. Deborah also trained law enforcement officers as well as other victim advocates, both locally and at statewide conferences.Â
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Deborah has testified as an expert witness in lethality risk factors related to domestic violence. She has a solid reputation for identifying dangerous personalities both within and outside the workplace.
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Her experience in crisis services and victim advocacy taught her how to listen carefully and be present in the most challenging of environments and circumstances. It is through this work she decided to help others learn to trust their intution, especially when it comes to potentially harmful professional and personal relationships.
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Finally, Deborah is a mental health enthusiast. She loves helping people discover mental health strategies that work best for them. She has written dozens of articles about mental health you can find in publications, such as Good Life Family Magazine and Richardson Life Magazine.Â
Leadership
Deborah has spent the last 19 years in nonprofit leadership, earning a reputation for staff retention in an industry known for burnout and high turnover rate. Deborah has led multi-generational and ethnically and spritually diverse teams, and she is skilled at creating a healthy organizational culture without compromising standards.Â
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Prior to her role as a nonprofit leader, Deborah launched and managed an espresso business, so she also has an understanding of the entrepreneurial spirit as well as the unique challenges of self-employment.
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One of her "Rules" of Life:
Trust your gut, and know your exits.