About Debra L. Kaplan
Debra L. Kaplan, MA, LAC, LISAC, CMAT, CSAT-S specializes in helping adults and adolescents overcome sex addiction and borderline personality disorder/complex PTSD. Debra also works with couples and spouses affected by sex addiction.
From Wall Street to counseling psychology
After earning her MBA in 1985, Debra’s career landed her in the commodity markets of New York. Time spent on Wall Street and on the commodity trading floor offered an unforeseen study in and passion for human behavior. Those years became the foundation for Debra’s studies in counseling psychology.
A life change brought Debra to Arizona in 1995. Given her passion for psychology and personal growth in recovery, Debra went on to complete a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology from the Arizona School of Professional Psychology, thus merging her academic and life experiences.
Training from the preeminent authorities in addiction and trauma
Debra received additional training at The Meadows in Wickenburg, Arizona. The Meadows is a leading facility for the treatment of addictions, trauma, and behavioral disorders.
Debra continues to study under Pia Mellody, a preeminent authority in addictions, relationships, and codependence at The Meadows. Pia Mellody is known for her groundbreaking work in codependence, boundaries, and the effects of childhood trauma on emotional development. Her research has profoundly influenced therapeutic standards for treating addictions. As such Debra utilizes Pia’s Post Induction Training in her approach to address trauma and emotional development.
Debra’s practice and intensive out-patient consulting also incorporates the work of Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. Dr. van der Kolk is one of the world’s foremost authorities in complex post-traumatic stress (complex PTSD). Since the 1970s, Dr. van der Kolk and his collaborators have published extensively on the impact of trauma on development, borderline personality, and self-mutilation. Their work has become the therapeutic standard for understanding and healing complex PTSD. Read more about treatment for complex PTSD.
At the cutting edge of addiction and trauma treatment
Debra is committed to providing her clients with the best treatment available. Toward this end, Debra stays current on developments in the field of addiction and trauma, including recent theoretical findings and new practice methodologies.Debra is a Certified Multiple Addictions Therapist (CMAT), Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) and Certified Sex Addiction Therapist Supervisor (CSAT-S). The designation is offered by Dr. Patrick Carnes’ International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals (IITAP). IITAP promotes a highly effective, task-centered approach to trauma, chemical dependency, financial disorders, and intimacy/sex addiction which Debra utilizes and integrates into her work with clients. Debra serves as a faculty member for IITAP and lectures with Dr. Carnes. Read more about sex addiction treatment.
Debra utilizes proven modalities to help her clients overcome the negative effects of trauma. Debra is a Level-II trained EMDR therapist, and she has received advanced training in EFT, experiential therapy, and family of origin work. Debra currently serves as contributing author for The Meadows’ publications.
Debra is a member of EMDRIA, ISTSS, SASH, and IITAP, organizations dedicated to the treatment of trauma and the advancement of sexual health.