Deborah Bauman

Hello! I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in California. I received my Masters in Social Work from the University of Southern California, and have extensive experience in the mental health field. I have a strong and diverse background working both with veterans at the VA, and entertainment industry clients at the Entertainment Community Fund. I have been in private practice for the past several years. I enjoy helping adults at different stages to navigate life transitions and challenges. If you are a college student entering adulthood needing support, a young adult in your 20s or 30s trying to forge your path, or an older adult adjusting to retirement, I can offer skills, insight and a helping hand to empower your personal growth. I can work with you on issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship problems and chronic health conditions, and also have specialized training to help you process trauma and address PTSD, often stemming from childhood and family experiences.

By creating a trusting relationship, I foster a safe and non-judgmental environment to help you work towards your therapy goals. I help you feel accepted through the emotional warmth and empathy I convey, allowing you to comfortably explore deep feelings and get to know your authentic self. I am also able to flexibly tailor my style and approaches depending on your individual needs. For clients who struggle with self-critical thinking, and to manage and reduce the daily battle with anxiety and depression, I incorporate a cognitive behavioral approach to help you break the loop of thoughts, feelings and behaviors that keep you in a negative cycle. For clients who want to heal from trauma, whether from childhood or more recent events, I utilize EMDR or parts work -- powerful, experiential tools to increase your ability to tolerate and manage painful feelings and memories and lead a freer and fuller life. Overall, I help clients understand how their personal and family history have influenced present-day issues and struggles. I help clients understand themes and patterns in their lives, an awareness that enables them to make healthier and more intentional life choices.

In our first session, we will start to get to know each other. I will ask you about what led you to seek help. I will also ask what you hope to gain from therapy, and to educate you about how the process can help you increase your ability to cope more effectively with distressing problems while also setting realistic expectations. I will stress that it is really a journey to support you to discover your truest self and live a fulfilling life. I will tell you more about my style and approach. We will start to work in a collaborative partnership to set goals for treatment, based on aims that you identify.