Debra Andersen MS

Debra began meditating while attending the University of Redlands, in 1995, and found it to be an insightful practice of inquiry and exploration. She worked as an analyst and business manager for years and has a master’s in business administration, from the University of Redlands. She found the corporate world to be less than ideal, left and opened a few businesses, worked as a librarian then fell in love with yoga. She took a teacher training program at Core Power Yoga. Then pursued greater depth and breadth with Yoga for Mood Management, Life Force Yoga, and experienced Yoga Nidra.

She practiced Yoga Nidra for 2 years and fell asleep during every practice, sheer exhaustion. Later she found iRest meditation. She practiced with recordings of Richard Miller for 8 months, still falling asleep, before going to one of his iRest retreats. During the retreat, she was able to stay awake and engage with all 10 steps. It was during this training she was able to dissolve into awareness.

She has taken the iRest Teacher Training, the Yoga Therapist training program through the Soul of Yoga, and the Art of the Gong Training Program at Sat Sangat Sanctuary. She obtained certification in Comprehensive Pilates teacher training through BASI and has taught active aging classes for Silver Sneakers, Labor of Love, Movement Therapy, Summit Institute for pain management, and has been a fitness trainer. Movement and wellness are very important aspects of her life and the lives of others.

Wanting to share health and healing with more people she entered the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Program at Grand Canyon University in 1998. She has completed the academic requirements and is now in field experience. In field experience, she interns as a Clinical Student Counselor under the supervision of a licensed practitioner at Palo Santo Psychotherapy & Wellness in Tucson, Arizona.

She is an eclectic counselor. She believes it is essential to utilize the most effective evidence-based tools with clients. She has pursued specialized training in mindfulness, CBT, DBT, EMDR Resourcing, Complex Trauma, Grief, and Gottman Couples therapy. These are also the modes of therapy that she draws from to utilize in sessions.